Women's Project

Since 2005, the Women and Young Persons' Department has provided legal advice to refugee and migrant women and children in Scotland who have an unsettled asylum/immigration position and who have experienced gender-based violence in their country of origin and/or the UK.

Gender based violence can take many forms including, but not limited to, the following:-

  • domestic abuse
  • forced and child marriages
  • female genital cutting
  • sexual abuse
  • ritual abuse
  • honour related violence
  • human trafficking

Legal Advice

The Women’s Project provides advice, assistance and representation for women and children in Scotland who have experienced gender based violence in the following areas:-

  • Claiming asylum/international protection in the UK
  • Immigration status
  • Access to safe accommodation
  • National Referral Mechanism

Please note that the Women’s Project does not provide advice on family or criminal law matters but frequently works in partnership with solicitors in these areas.

If you wish advice or you wish to refer an individual for advice, please make a referral to the Project. Full details are at Client Referrals

Second-Tier Advice

We also provide free advice to other lawyers, organisations and individuals who are assisting or supporting refugee and migrant women and children with an unsettled asylum/immigration position who have experienced gender based violence (whether in their country of origin, en route to the UK or in the UK).

If you are interested in obtaining second-tier advice from Project staff, please see Second Tier/General Advice

Policy, Research and Training

Please see Policy, Research and Training

Project Staff

The Women’s Project has the following staff:-

  • Kirsty Thomson - Solicitor (Senior Associate)
  • Sarah Crawford - Solicitor
  • Nicola Underdown - Solicitor
  • Iona Stewart - Legal Secretary
  • Averil Nisbet - Caseworker 

The Project is also supported by a Volunteer Programme. For more details on this programme, please see – Volunteer Programme

Funders

The Women’s Project is supported by funds from the Scottish Government Violence against Women Fund and Comic Relief.

Women and Young Persons' Department leaflet