News

I Am Human: Experiences of refugee women

Thursday, 15 January 2015

On Wednesday 14 January, Women for Refugee Women launched their latest report at a conference at Amnesty UK, which was attended by Abi Amey, Project Assistant at the Centre. The report, I Am Human, includes the experiences of 38 women who have been detained in Yarl’s Wood between June 2012 and October 2014.

It found that detention had a profoundly negative effect on their mental health, as half the women interviewed said they had been on suicide watch while detained. Many felt victimised and dehumanised by staff, with some reporting racist abuse and sexual assault. 33 out of 38 women also reported being routinely watched by male guards in intimate situations, such as when naked, partially dressed, in the shower or on the toilet; experiences they found very distressing.

The report goes on to recommend an end to the detention of asylum seekers, which could begin with ending the detention of all women who are pregnant or who have been victims of gender-based violence or rape. It argues that all asylum claims can be considered while the applicant lives in the community. 

A report on the conference can be found on The Guardian