Please give Ruth refugee status on the grounds of her sexuality

Ruth was trafficked in to the UK in 2004 from South Africa and claimed asylum in 2010 after escaping her traffickers. Since this traumatic time in her life she has been able to access counselling and support and talk about the major issue in her life which is her sexuality. She had to keep her feelings for women supressed in her country of origin, Nigeria, but also in South Africa where she moved to when she was 10 years old.

Ruth has submitted new evidence of her sexuality. Since January 2014 when the Marriage Prohibition law was signed by the president of Nigeria there have been well documented reports about dozens of arrests of LGBT people in the country. The new legislation outlaws same-sex marriages with 14-year jail penalty and up to 10 years for membership or encouragement of gay clubs, societies and organisations. The signing of the new laws has also encouraged an increase in hate crimes towards LGBT people.

We believe that Ruth’s life would be in danger if she were to be forced to go back to Nigeria  and we are signing  to support her Campaign to ask the Home Office to let her live in peace and safety in UK.