by Marchu Girma, Sophie Radice, Natasha Tsangarides and Natasha Walter DETAINED WOMEN ASYLUM SEEKERS LOCKED UP IN THE UK With Philippe Sands, Juliet Stevenson and Lydia Besong ii Detained Women asylum seekers locked up in the UK Women for Refugee Women challenges the injustices experienced by women who seek asylum in the UK. Our vision is a society in which women’s human rights are respected and Photographs throughout the report by Aliya Mirza, in which they are safe www.aliyamirza.com from persecution. The photograph on the front cover and some images throughout the report were posed by models. Women for Refugee Women Our mission is to ensure Tindlemanor 52 Featherstone Street that women seeking London EC1Y 8RT 020 7250 1239 asylum in the UK are
[email protected] www.refugeewomen.co.uk treated with justice Charity Number: 1121174 and dignity © Women for Refugee Women, January 2014 Detained women asylum seekers locked up in the UK Contents 2 Why I Speak Out 26 Sarah’s Story by Lydia Besong 28 The Detained 3 Foreword by Professor Fast Track Philippe Sands QC 31 Yarl’s Wood 4 Executive summary 33 A Day in Yarl’s Wood 5 Key findings 35 The impact of detention 6 Introduction Mental health 8 Detention and asylum Health Gender-related Pregnant women persecution Separation from Rape and sexual children violence Leaving detention Torture 41 My journey to Female Genital Yarl’s Wood by Mutilation Juliet Stevenson Trafficking and forced 43 Recommendations prostitution 44 Methodology and Lesbians Further findings 18 Alice’s Story 46 Endnotes 20 Detention: policy 49 Acknowledgements and practice and contributors Legal framework Legal representation Costs Time 2 Detained Women asylum seekers locked up in the UK Why I Speak Out by Lydia Besong would not have left my own country if I had not been in danger for my life.