Woolas: “There is specific written guidance for asylum decision makers on gender issues and victims of trafficking”
Women and families held at Yarl's Wood removal centre receive legal advice surgeries twice a week, Immigration Minister Phil Woolas has said.
The detainees also have two full-time welfare officers, access to pastoral care provided by the on-site religious team, an on-site counsellor, and hold weekly focus groups where they can raise any concerns/issues/topics, Mr. Woolas said.
In a written response to Harry Cohen, MP for Leyton & Wanstead, Labour, Mr. Woolas said that “The UK Border Agency case owner foundation training programme covers gender issues in the asylum claim and in addition case owners receive instruction on dealing sensitively with asylum applicants who claim to have been tortured or raped. There is specific written guidance for asylum decision makers on gender issues and victims of trafficking.”
MP Cohen wanted to know what national guidelines and international agreements apply to women seeking asylum who are rape victims; what account is taken of the provisions of such guidelines and agreements in assessing such applications; in what circumstances such women may be deported if their asylum applications fail; and what support and advice is provided for such women who are held in immigration removal centres.
Mr. Woolas said that “All asylum and human rights claims, including those from women who assert they have been, or fear becoming victims of rape are carefully considered in accordance with the UK's obligations under the 1951 refugee convention and the European convention on human rights (ECHR) and the UK's immigration rules. Every case is considered on its individual merits in the light of country of origin information based upon published and respected sources which are regularly reviewed and updated.”
He said that although gender is not listed as a basis on which asylum can be sought under the 1951 convention, in some cases it may be a factor in recognising membership of a "particular social group" or an identifying characteristic of such a group and there are forms of harm that are more frequently or only used against women and which may amount to persecution.
“Where a decision has been made that a person does not require international protection, and there are no remaining rights of appeal or obstacles to their return, we expect unsuccessful asylum seekers to return voluntarily to their country of origin. If they do not return voluntarily we may seek to enforce their return,” Mr. Woolas said.
He added that “all detainees arriving at an immigration removal centre are advised of their right to legal representation and how such representation can be obtained within 24 hours of arrival, and they are able to apply for bail as often as they wish.”
