Snip, snip, snip. That’s right, the coalition’s still cutting away at women’s rights…
Last week we wrote about cuts to ESOL classes. This week the government announced that it would be getting rid of the Female Genital Mutilation Coordinator. As of tomorrow - 1 April - the only post across all of Whitehall which is dedicated to tackling FGM in the UK will go. Sounds like a bad April Fool’s joke, doesn’t it? But it’s true. An estimated 24,000 girls in the UK are at risk of female genital mutilation and last month, the government launched new guidelines to protect them. Speaking at the launch event Minister Lynne Featherstone said ‘I...
Read MoreFGM – government cuts reveal lack of commitment
PRESS RELEASE 28 March 2011 FGM – government cuts reveal lack of commitment Government FGM Coordinator post to go weeks after government publishes FGM guidelines Charities working to prevent female genital mutilation within the UK’s African and Middle Eastern communities today criticised the government’s decision to cut the only post across all of Whitehall which is dedicated to tackling FGM in the UK. The cross government FGM Coordinator has played an important role in increasing government action on FGM in the UK. Last month the government released new guidelines, written by the...
Read MoreTell migrants to integrate while cutting English lessons: The coalition’s meanest policy yet?
On Monday the loveliest woman came to IKWRO’s office for our Nowruz party. Let’s call her Shahla. In between dolma and baklava, she taught me some Middle Eastern dance moves. She also told me how she ended up in England. Shahla’s in her late 20s. She was part of the pro-democracy movement in Iran and had to leave her home, her family and all her friends behind when the Iranian government issued a warrant for her arrest. She came here last year. IKWRO helped Shahla to apply for asylum, and even though her application has been approved she still stays in touch. Shahla...
Read MoreIKWRO celebrates White Ribbon Day with good news from London Councils
On the international day for the elimination of violence against women, IKWRO celebrates the good news that London Councils have decided to maintain our funding.
Read MoreThe clock is ticking. Last chance to sign the petition!
Tomorrow morning, representatives from each London borough are meeting at the London Councils office to decide whether or not to axe funding to IKWRO and lots of other organisations who provide vital services in London. We will be holding a peaceful demonstration outside their meeting. We’ll also hand in our petition to Steve Bullock, the Chair of the London Councils Grants Committee. We need to print out our petition before the end of the day so we can bring it along with us tomorrow. And that means that we need you to help us get as many signatures as possible before five o clock...
Read More