"All families matter": Human rights for Southern Africans in the UK
ACTSA is working with Women of Zimbabwe (WoZ) to support the rights of women – and specifically single mothers – who migrated from countries in Southern Africa to the UK to work as health and social care workers and were then denied visas for their children.
Women of Zimbabwe protest in Sheffield outside the UKVI 27/09/24 ©Jess Hurd
Background
Single mothers from Southern Africa and other countries who arrived in the UK to work as health and care workers have been denied their child’s visa despite having the right to bring dependants when they arrived.
These mothers, mostly from Zimbabwe (which sent the second highest number of care workers to the UK in 2023-2024) but also from across Africa and the world, had planned to bring their children after settling in the UK but have been met with repeated visa refusals despite arriving with the right to bring their children with them.
Some mothers have been separated from their child for years, including one 5-year-old who hasn’t seen his mum for three years. It took one mother 10 months and multiple costly applications to obtain a visa for her 6-month-old baby.
ACTSA and WoZ launched a report – All Families Matter: Uncovering Injustice and Discrimination in the UK Visa and Immigration system – in the House of Lords on Wednesday 22 January 2025, hosted by Lord Jonny Oates, with speakers including Women of Zimbabwe founder Patricia Chinyoka and affected mothers, and Professor Majella Kilkey.
Watch the launch of the report here:
Latest updates
3 placards Women of Zimbabwe protest in Sheffield outside the UKVI 27/09/24 ©Jess Hurd
If you’d like to get involved – look out for ways to get involved by getting onto our mailing list here and following ACTSA and Women of Zimbabwe on social media. You can also email us at [email protected].