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Regional secretary with the National Education Union
Vulnerable women seeking asylum still being locked up

VULNERABLE women seeking asylum in Britain are still being locked up in detention centres where they suffer further trauma, a charity warns today.

In January 2016, an independent review recommended that survivors of sexual and gender-based violence should not be held in immigration detention centres but, despite changes in government policy, such women are still being locked up.

Women for Refugee Women spoke to 26 women who claimed asylum and were detained at the notorious Yarl’s Wood centre since September 2016, when the Adults at Risk policy came in, and found that 85 per cent were survivors of domestic violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, forced prostitution or trafficking.

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