UK uses cookies to make the site simpler. Find out more about cookies. We deal in this determination with the appeals of three nationals of Somalia. They were directed to be heard together under Rule 51 of the Immigration and Asylum Appeals Procedure Rules because they raised the common issue of whether the Claimants would face a real risk of serious harm by virtue of being lone women, ie women returning on their own to Somalia.
This case is reported as country guidance for what it says about this issue, Ashrafs, and the related issue of risk to returnees. Prior to our hearing of these three appeals, there was a directions hearing. That gave permission for those representing the first Claimant to call Professor I M Lewis to speak to his expert report and identified five main issues β all relating to the issue of risk on return to lone women.
Steps were taken to ensure that the parties placed before the Tribunal the latest background country materials as well as reports from experts.
We are grateful to those representing the three Claimants for the efforts they made to combine their own researches and deployment of experts. By dint of their endeavours we have been able to approach our deliberations on these appeals in the light of a good range of materials.
We set out in Appendix A the cases which were cited to us. The principal background materials placed before us are listed at Appendix B. Although these three appeals have been heard together for the purpose of enabling the Tribunal to give country guidance, our jurisdiction in respect of them is confined to that of error of law.
