‘State Sponsored Cruelty’: detaining innocent children
A police raid on a family in the middle of the night is the last thing one would expect to occur in Cambridge. However, in nearby Bedford, there is a detention centre, Yarl’s Wood, full of people who have been subjected to this treatment. Emma Ginn, a representative from the NGO Medical Justice, gave a talk at Sidney Sussex college on Friday 29th October, hosted by Medsin. Emma explained the work of Medical Justice, which exposes and challenges inadequate healthcare provision to immigration detainees, and illustrated the reality for the hundreds of asylum-seeking children in detention today.
Emma emphasized that the families who are being detained are not criminals. In fact, many of them are the victims of crimes in their countries of origin. 70 per cent of the women in detention centres have been raped, an act often used as a weapon of war. Seemingly, entire families are imprisoned for the crime of seeking respect and dignity in our country.
How does the UK border agency respond? By inflicting violence on parents when moving them to detention centres, in front of their children, and sometimes on the children themselves. The detention centres are no place for anyone, let alone a child; hunger strikes, riots and self harm are rife.
According to the report published by Medical Justice, ‘State Sponsored Cruelty’, there is evidence that living in a detention centre is detrimental to the welfare of children. Over half of the children interviewed suffered from psychological harm, including prolonged bed wetting, reversed development and in some cases, thoughts of suicide. Further, children were denied basic access to healthcare and vaccinations, and were separated from their parents if complaints were made.
Yet the picture need not remain so bleak. The coalition government promised to end the detention of children. They must be reminded of their promise, to ensure it is upheld. By writing to our politicians and reminding them of their commitment, this issue will not slip off the radar. It is imperative that this unnecessary cruelty ends.
To find out more information, go to www.medicaljustice.org.uk
By Nicci Shall ~ 1 November 2010
