Visa Applications from Afghanistan Women and Girls 2023-05-22
2023-05-22
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
More than 24,000 people have arrived in the UK under Operation Pitting, with 21,000 resettled through the Afghan relocations and assistance policy or the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme. There is no visa application centre in Afghanistan due to security reasons.
What steps her Department is taking to support women and girls applying for UK visas from Afghanistan?
More than 24,000 people have arrived in the UK under Operation Pitting, with 21,000 resettled through the Afghan relocations and assistance policy or the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme. There is not a visa application centre in Afghanistan for security reasons, but those who have left can make an application normally. The ACRS is designed to support vulnerable people such as women and girls at risk.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide specific steps or mechanisms beyond stating the scheme's existence.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Five British children have been in hiding in Kabul for 18 months, with only one attending school. The Afghan mother cannot secure a visa to travel to Pakistan to do biometrics.
For the fourth time, I raise the case of five British children who are in hiding in Kabul and whose Afghan mother cannot secure a visa due to safety concerns. Will the Minister waive the requirement for biometrics in this case?
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her tenacious representation of her constituents. She knows I intervened personally to seek a swift resolution. The application is under consideration, and officials are speaking with the office to help progress it.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not commit to waiving biometrics but indicates ongoing efforts to resolve the case.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The treatment of female population by the Taliban is described as enslavement, referencing a Sky correspondent's film on the issue.
Does the Minister accept that the female population of Afghanistan is enslaved? Will he look at early-day motion 1188 marking the 90th anniversary of an organisation rescuing female academics from potential enslavement?
I would be pleased to look at the material recommended, in particular the early-day motion. The treatment of women and girls by the Taliban is abhorrent; we condemn it and created the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme to support as many as possible.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not commit to looking at the early-day motion but discusses the ACRS in general terms.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Female judges and prosecutors were encouraged by the UK to take up roles, but now face threats of persecution from the Taliban.
I recently had a meeting with the Prime Minister about the plight of female judges and prosecutors who were encouraged by the UK to take up their roles. Will the Minister assure me that the Home Office would be sympathetic to humanitarian visas for these women?
I would be very happy to look into this. The hon. and learned Lady has campaigned on this issue since the fall of Kabul, so perhaps a useful way forward would be for her and I to meet to discuss this further.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not commit to looking into humanitarian visas but suggests meeting to discuss.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Home Office granted visas to the Afghan women's junior development football team, but many other sportswomen face severe recriminations if they participate.
As part of the Government's resettlement scheme for Afghan citizens facing threats from the Taliban, what is being done to support sportswomen who wish to come to the UK to play their sports?
The ACRS is a scheme designed to help more women and girls out of Afghanistan to a place of safety and a new life in the UK, considering the restrictions on sports participation and severe recriminations for athletes.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide specific steps but mentions ACRS as general support.
Response accuracy