The woman called 258
Abri wrote this blog, the third of a series of three, for Detention Forum member Women for Refugee Women from inside Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre in July 2014. I didn’t know how much of a crier I was until my time in Yarl’s wood; I have formed friendships with some [...]
Our pain is Serco’s profit
Abri's second blog, written for Women for Refugee Women in July 2014, from inside Yarl's Wood detention centre. Women for Refugee Women is a member of the Detention Forum. Today I would like to share some personal experiences and those of fellow detainees, with the hope that we can get people [...]
My soul cries for justice, my heart is searching for hope and my body simply wants a walk in the park
In July 2014, Women for Refugee Women shared the experiences of 'Abri' who was detained in Yarl's Wood detention centre. You can see Abri's testimony on the Women for Refugee Women website here. Women for Refugee Women is a member of the Detention Forum. I carry scars deep down within [...]
Let’s put ‘an end to indefinite detention of asylum seekers and migrants’ – Sanctuary Summit
The Detention Forum, together with many of our members, will be attending the Sanctuary Summit on 15 November 2014. We are very pleased to know that one of the 8 key principles of the summint is 'an end to the indefinite detention of asylum seekers and migrants'. We look forward [...]
Dover week…
The Unlocking Detention team looks back on the week they visited Dover detention centre in Kent. The Dover week was a busy week like other weeks, but this time with the Detention Inquiry's second evidence session taking place on Thursday (and we also had our Quarterly Meeting, which always needs a [...]
Oxford academics call for Campsfield detention centre expansion plan to be scrapped
Oxford dons take Mr Cameron to task over immigration detention at nearby Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre. On Saturday 15th November 2014, the distinguished barrister and Principal of Mansfield College, Baroness Helena Kennedy, and Danny Dorling, Professor of Geography and other signatories will launch the letter to Prime Minister David Cameron [...]
Women in detention – a troubling reality
This blog post was written by Rosa Heimer, an intern at René Cassin – a charity working to promote and protect universal human rights, drawing on Jewish experience and values, and a member of the Detention Forum. A considerably high number of women seek asylum in the UK on the [...]
Immigration detention: A most un-British phenomenon
By Lea Sitkin and Bethan Rogers. This article originally appeared in Open Democracy's Unlocking Detention series. Lea Sitkin is Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Westminster. She holds a DPhil in Criminology from the University of Oxford. Lea has also worked with a number of NGOs, including volunteering as [...]