Home Department written question – answered at on 27 March 2006.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women being held at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre have reported being raped in their country of origin; whether their continued detention complies with the provisions of his Department's Operation Enforcement Manual; whether victims of rape are deemed to be victims of torture; and if he will make a statement.
The number of women currently held at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre who have reported being raped in their country of origin can be determined only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate costs. The Operational Enforcement Manual advises that certain persons are normally considered suitable for detention in only exceptional circumstances.
Elderly persons, pregnant women, those suffering from serious medical conditions or who are otherwise mentally ill and those where there is independent evidence to show that they have been tortured would be included among those persons who would usually be considered unsuitable for detention. Detaining officers will always consider on a case by case basis whether detention is appropriate in any particular case. Rape can come within the category of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment for the purposes of article three of the European Convention on Human Rights as defined in the published instruction to caseworkers. The published instruction on gender issues indicates that it can also amount to persecution for the purposes of the Refugee Convention.
Yes0 people think so
No3 people think not
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