FEMALE ASYLUM seekers are being targeted by strangers seeking sex, among other stressful situations, a new report has warned.
African women’s organisation AkiDwA undertook focus groups with 121 women living in Ireland’s direct provision centres, which house asylum seekers, and found that mental health problems, lack of privacy and vulnerability to sexual exploitation are ongoing concerns.
“Female residents identified feeling pushed to their limits from the stress of the asylum process: non transparency of decision making processes, long waits for status determination, enforced inactivity, overcrowding and other difficult living conditions in accommodation centres. Some women surveyed said that they felt ‘trapped – no way out’,” states the report.
Women from several regions reported that while walking in town or collecting their children from school, they were being followed by men, sometimes in cars.
“Women coming from, or going to, accommodation centres have been asked if they want ‘lifts’ in or out of town, or if they want money. Women said that they had been approached by local men and asked if they do sex work.
“Women in one region had been asked by local men, ‘Do you need money? Do you want to work?’” added the report.
The AkiDwA study calls for an independent audit of the direct provision system and that a mandatory code of conduct and comprehensive training and vetting programme “be introduced promptly and fully implemented for all personnel, management, accommodation owners and government department officials working with asylum seekers”.
