Leading charities Southall Black Sisters and Solace disappointed by Covid-19 Inquiry’s failure to put forward vital, life-saving recommendations on domestic abuse, particularly for migrant victim-survivors with no recourse to public funds.
The Government must do more to ensure domestic abuse victim-survivors are not put at further risk in the event of another pandemic or national emergency, according to two charities supporting women and girls.
Southall Black Sisters (SBS) and Solace, both of whom contributed evidence to Module 2 of the Covid-19 Inquiry, have responded to the Inquiry’s report on central government decision-making during the pandemic. The report fails to adopt key recommendations, put forward by SBS and Solace:
It is particularly shocking that the report makes no reference whatsoever to the impact of government decision-making on migrant women with NRPF, who are among the most vulnerable in our society.
SBS and Solace welcome the Inquiry’s finding that the Government should have had made plans to mitigate the foreseeable surge in domestic abuse; and that there was a failure to learn lessons between the first and second lockdowns. The Inquiry also recognised that clearer public messaging was needed and that the misogynistic culture within Government was “to the detriment of decision-making”.
In this context, SBS and Solace are disappointed that their recommendations were not included in the report.
Selma Taha, Executive Director of Southall Black Sisters, said:
“Domestic abuse reached crisis levels during the pandemic. Migrant victim-survivors with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) were trapped in a triple bind of Covid-19, domestic abuse, and the threat of deportation and destitution. The Home Office made a conscious decision not to lift the NRPF or extend status and support to migrant victim-survivors – giving perpetrators more power – it is disappointing that the Home Office was not held accountable by the Inquiry.
We submitted evidence to the Covid Inquiry to centre the experiences of the victim-survivors and ensure that such state failures never happen again. We welcome the Inquiry’s recognition that the surge in domestic abuse should have been foreseen; however, the fact that women with NRPF are three times more likely to be subjected to VAWG should have been addressed.
The government must now accept all our life-saving recommendations, end the hostile environment and work with us to ensure that a robust response to domestic abuse is prioritised in future pandemics.”
Rebecca Goshawk, Director of Business Development at Solace, said:
“It is shameful that leaders overlooked the needs of the millions of women experiencing domestic abuse in the UK, leaving them trapped with their abusers. The Inquiry makes it clear that the Government failed to protect vulnerable people and should have planned for the foreseeable surge in domestic abuse.
Disappointingly, the Inquiry fails to set out specific life-saving recommendations to protect domestic abuse survivors in case of future emergencies. Women are still living with the lasting scars – both physical and emotional – of domestic abuse suffered during the pandemic. We urge future governments to ensure that lives are not lost due to inaction again.”
Adriana Matrigiani, Solicitor at PILC, said:
“The Inquiry has recognised that it was foreseeable that requiring people to stay in their homes would expose vulnerable groups, including those at risk of domestic abuse, to particular harm. During Module 2, Southall Black Sisters (SBS) and Solace put forward vital recommendations on a framework of support for future pandemic including supporting victim-survivors with insecure immigration status, key worker status for frontline domestic abuse workers, and sector consultations. The Inquiry’s failure to address the No Recourse to Public Funds condition and recommend that all victim-survivors must be given access to support in a crisis, regardless of their immigration status, is a significant missed opportunity. Our clients worked tirelessly during lockdown to support migrant victim-survivors who were trapped with their abusers, unable to access refuge or services. The Inquiry heard this evidence but has not recommended the changes needed to protect these victim-survivors in future emergencies. The Government must now act on all the recommendations put forward by SBS and Solace to ensure no victim-survivor is left behind.”
Contacts:
For Southall Black Sisters: Sanskriti Sanghi – [email protected] 07771316138
For Solace: Rebecca Goshawk – [email protected] 07854968970
About Southall Black Sisters:
Southall Black Sisters (SBS), founded in 1979, is a pioneering Black feminist organisation dedicated to empowering Black, minoritised and migrant women and girls, particularly those fleeing violence against women and girls (VAWG). For over four decades, SBS has been a trailblazer in advocating for the rights and safety of some of society’s most marginalised women and girls, addressing barriers rooted in racism, sexism, and socio-economic inequalities. SBS’ frontline work has driven key reforms, across immigration, civil and criminal law. In 2023-2024 alone, we handled 5,472 helpline calls and supported 706 individual cases-60% of which involved victim-survivors with No Recourse to Public Funds. Our Investing in Safety model shows that our support saves the state over £18,000 per woman over 3 years – demonstrating both the economic and social value of our work.
Website | https://southallblacksisters.org.uk/
Twitter | @SBSisters
Facebook | /Southall.Black.Sisters
About Solace:
Solace is London’s largest domestic abuse and sexual violence charity, supporting tens of thousands of women and children every year. Whatever form abuse comes in, from rape to trafficking to relationships based on psychological or financial control, we work to end it. We know that escaping the effects of abuse can be the hardest thing to do. That’s why the lifesaving support that Solace provides to women, children, and young people each year is so important.
Website | www.solacewomensaid.org
Instagram | @SolaceWomensAid
Facebook | /SolaceWomensAid
About the Legal Team:
SBS and Solace were represented jointly by the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) and Garden Court Chambers.
Liz Davies KC, Marina Sergides, Angharad Monk, Fatima Jichi and Ubah Dirie, all from Garden Court Chambers, all were counsel on the legal team, instructed by Helen Mowatt and Adriana Matrigiani of PILC.
