Influential women urge inclusion of asylum seekers in Labour plans to tackle violence

Exclusive: open letter warns of two-tier' system if asylum seekers are excluded from promise to halve violence against women and girls

More than 50 influential women, including actors, authors and comedians, have warned in a letter to the government against the risk of creating a two-tier" system to tackle violence against women and girls if tens of thousands of female asylum seekers are left out.

Labour has pledged to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade and is due to publish its strategy in September.

Fast-tracking asylum claims for women from high grant-rate countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan and Eritrea.

Reforming asylum accommodation so women have somewhere safe to call home.

Lifting the ban on work for women seeking asylum, to prevent further exploitation and harm.