Asylum ‘needs to address rape issue’

Almost half of women seeking asylum in Britain have been raped in their home countries, according to a report from a support group published today.

Women For Refugee Women (WFRW) said its report into the fate of more than 70 respondents living in seven UK cities, including Glasgow, found that the vast majority claiming to have been raped were refused asylum.

Of those refused, two-thirds were left destitute and more than half had thought about killing themselves.

Natasha Walter, WFRW director, said: “We are asking the government to note the growing concern about this issue and reform the asylum process to make it more responsive to women’s needs.”

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