Being a prisoner of conscience not only affects the individual at the centre of the case, but also their friends and family. When these human rights defenders have to flee their home country, family life is often never the same.
Our family reunion grants help those whose families have had to split up as a result of a human rights violation. This might include supporting visa applications, funding airline travel, medical assessment, legal expenses, DNA testing or allowing a family to see each other again during a visit. All of these allow families to reunite in the UK and elsewhere. In 2019/20, we reunited 9 families including 32 dependents.
Read more about some of the people who have been helped with a family reunion grant:
- Reunited. And It’s Thanks To You.
- Persecuted Pakistani teacher hoping to reunite with his children in the UK- Adeeb’s story
- A new life in Scotland for Iranian refugee – Farhad’s story
I’m absolutely delighted to say that the Home Office have finally granted a family reunion entry clearance visa to Tesfay’s* nephew and hopefully he will be in the UK in a couple of weeks. As you can imagine, the family are incredibly happy and so grateful to Prisoners of Conscience for all your support throughout this tortuous process.”
Sohini Tanna, Family Reunion Co-Ordinator, British Red Cross