As a Black and minoritised membership organisation representing ‘by and for’ specialist violence against women and girls (VAWG) organisations across the UK, we are deeply concerned by ITV’s undercover report on Reform UK.

It raises serious questions about the impact of far-right politics on local communities and on the frontline services that Black and minoritised women and girls rely on.

Islamophobia, anti-migrant rhetoric, misogyny, racism: we cannot allow this to become the norm. The horrifying language used by those in the documentary is an expression of the harmful policies that Black and minoritised communities are experiencing every day.

Local leaders and authorities must be held accountable for challenging rhetoric and policies that dehumanise Black and minoritised people, placing the wellbeing and safety of survivors of VAWG at risk. It is essential that governments at a local, regional and national level show leadership at this worrying time by protecting marginalised communities and ensuring that Black and minoritised survivors can access the specialist ‘by and for’ VAWG services they need.

Imkaan stands with our members on the frontline, challenging hate, holding decision-makers to account and demanding meaningful action. We urge local authorities, elected representatives and community leaders to speak out against racism and misogyny, reject the normalisation of far-right politics, and stand firmly with the communities most affected.

“Racism and misogyny put survivors at risk. Far-right rhetoric is not abstract for the women our members support. Every day we see how hostility towards migrants and minoritised communities makes women survivors more afraid to seek help.”
– Ghadah Alnasseri, Executive Director, Imkaan

Over the last two years, Imkaan has been exposing the intersection of racism, misogyny and the far right and the overall impact on Black and minoritised victim-survivors of VAWG.

• In September 2025, we wrote a statement on the impact of far-right targeting of VAWG.

• In August 2024, we wrote an urgent letter to the Prime Minister in response to the far-right attacks across the UK.

Following the 2024 far-right attacks, we also wrote to funders to develop a contingency fund to help members address the additional cost of the practical, operational and emotional harm experienced by staff and women accessing their services.

Today, we continue to support our members by challenging harmful narratives, engaging with local decision-makers and holding local authorities to account for their responsibilities towards Black and minoritised survivors.

By strengthening local advocacy and amplifying the experiences of frontline organisations, we can ensure that the needs of our communities remain visible, that essential services are protected and that local responses to VAWG uphold the rights, safety and dignity of every survivor.