Ms B from Ethiopia and Ms T from Uganda are fighting for full refugee status and appealing against ELR, in order to win their right to family reunion. Both women were raped in detention – one by police, the other by soldiers – and were forced to flee leaving their children behind. Ms B was detained and raped by police because of her political activities opposing the Ethiopian government’s persecution of the Hadiye people. The Home Office initially rejected her claim saying that she was raped as a result of “failure of discipline” by the police. Before her Appeal Hearing she was granted ELR. Active in two banned Muslim political groups in Uganda, Ms T was targeted for over two years by soldiers after her husband was arrested and disappeared. She was detained and repeatedly raped by soldiers, leaving her so badly injured on one occasion that she was taken to hospital, close to death. Again, the Home Office initially rejected her claim, but awarded ELR before her Appeal Hearing. The anguish of their ongoing separation from their children has made it impossible for Ms B and Ms T to rebuild their lives after their traumatic experiences.
