9th July 2020

In a crisis, refugee women suffer disproportionately due to structural inequalities built into asylum systems.  Refugee Women Connect are proud to launch sector-wide guidance to help organisations mitigate gendered harm as services are adapted in response to COVID-19.

The guidance recognises that women in the asylum system experience disadvantage that is multi-layered as gender intersects with ethnicity, poverty, language, caring responsibilities and health needs to create additional stratifications of need. The guidance is structured to highlight particular challenges asylum seeking and refugee women face during COVID-19 and makes specific recommendations for how to address these challenges. These recommendations include details on how to create gender-inclusive spaces and the need to consult with asylum seeking and refugee women in the design and implementation of COVID-19 services.

The guidance is a work in progress which will continue to respond to research and changes in government policy as the pandemic eases.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDANCE