LEGAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT TO FORCED MIGRANTS IN DETENTION YUSRAH NAGUJJA
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Transcript of LEGAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT TO FORCED MIGRANTS IN DETENTION YUSRAH NAGUJJA
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LEGAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT TO FORCED MIGRANTS IN DETENTION
YUSRAH NAGUJJA
REFUGEE LAW PROJECT , UGANDA
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Introduction
• Refugee Law Project is an outreach project of the school of Law, Makerere University
• Vision-ensure that all people in Uganda enjoy their human rights, irrespective of their legal status.
• Offices in Kampala (central), Mbarara and Hoima (western), Gulu and Kitgum (nothern)
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Our thematic programs and activities
• Conflict, Governance & Transitional Justice- research, documentation, advocacy, physical and psychosocial rehabilitation
• Gender and Sexuality- SGBV screening, counseling, medical support, capacity building and advocacy
• Access to Justice-, Detention monitoring at police, remand and prison facilities, representations before courts of law and other quasi-judicial bodies like Refugee Eligibility Committee, Refugee Appeals Board, Uganda Human Rights Commission legal advise, drafting of legal documents, documentation, capacity building and advocacy , Research on key emerging issues.
• Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing- Case management, community outreaches, group support, livelihoods support, research, capacity building and advocacy
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Detention Monitoring Objectives;• To identify detained forced migrants and offer
legal and psychosocial assistance • To assess rights and conditions of detention • Assess mental and psychosocial conditions • Identify and document issues for advocacy,
awareness raising and capacity building
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Detention Monitoring Between January to July 2014, RLP has done
visits in;• 15 prisons-Kigo, Jinja women, Mbarara main,
Igayaza, Hoima, Masindi, Kigumba, Kagadi, Kyegegwa, Katojo, Mpigi, Machishion Bay, Morokatipe (Tororo), Arua, Busia,
• 194 forced migrants• 173 male and 21 female• 186 were between 19 to 54 years, 8 above 55
and 1 below 18 years
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Legal Status
Legal status
• In total we identified 194 forced migrants ____• 179 refugees (89 DRC, 64 RWA, 25 BUR, 2 SOM)• 10 asylum seekers (5 SOM, 3 RWA, 1 DRC and 1 S.Sudan)• 5 deportees (2 Nigerians, )• 25 Irregular immigrants (8 S.Sudan, 6 Kenya, 4 DRC, 4 Pakistan, 3
RWA)
Nationality• 90 DRC, 67 RWA, 25 Burundi, 7 SOM, 2 Nigerains and 1 S.Sudan as
forced migrants
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Police Posts/ stations
• 9 police stations/posts-Nateete, Lungujja, Kakajo, Old Kampala, Kafumbe mukasa, Owino, Kakoni, Kawala, Kasubi
• Five remanded; 1 Entebbe, 1 Kabalagala, 1 Kawaala, and 2 in katwe
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Assessment • Access to Justice tool was developed in house – demographics, legal
status, reason for detention, access to lawyer and legal services, access to basic needs/services, safety
• MHPW tool was adapted and adopted from the –family/ support systems
• 25 item John Hopkins symptoms checklist (depression, anxiety, substance, behavioral); 22 item impact of event scale (PTSD) and coping checklist
• Correspond Psychiatric Disorders. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)
• Between January and July 2014, 51 forced migrants have been screened in Mbarara and Hoima
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Legal Issues Identified • 49 had legal issues
The most common legal issues identified were;• Verbal abuse • Not knowing the reason for being in prison• Delayed court hearing• Inability to get bail due to lack of cash/ sureties • Lack of services of lawyer• Deprivation of conjugal rights
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Stressful events experienced
Among 51 refugees screened • Threats while in detention (47.4%)• Physical torture (39.2%)• Sexual violence (14%)• Psychological torture (96.1%)
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Lack of access to services/ basics
• Food/water (44%)
• Education (38%)
• Medical (42%)
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Mental Health
Among 51 refugees screened in Mbarara and Hoima between January and July 2014- just over 60% tested positive for mental health disorders.
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Mental health disorders
• Anxiety __sometimes (64.4%), always (32.6%)• Depression __sometimes (58.3%), always
(43.8%)• PTSD__Extreme (45.8%), Moderate (42.2%)s• Anger/ Conduct problems_sometimes (19.1%) • Substances abuse_sometimes (44.4%), often
(4%)• Phsychosoma_sometimes (44.9%), always
(32.4%)
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Common mental health symptoms• Feeling suddenly scared• Extreme worry about things/life• Spells of terror/Panic• Restlessness• Hopelessness• Low energy• Lack of sleep• Easily getting angry• Starting fights• Intentionally hurting someone/others • Use of sleeping pills• Use of drugs • Headaches• Intrusive thoughts
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Coping
• Prayer and fasting (51%)• Not doing anything about it (42.2%)• Avoidance (38%)• Trying to forget (38%)• Denial (36%)• Numbing (30.2%)• Leisure activities (24.5%)• Attending classes (12%)
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RLP interventions
Mental health interventions • Counseling -46 forced migrants• Between 2-4 sessions• Between 30 minutes to 1 hour• Repeatedly use tool to measure progress• 47.8% have registered reduced symptoms
over a period of 4 months
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Psychosocial Support
• Psycho education • Collaborate with other agencies for assistance
for example two cases being helped with resettling agencies, ARC in Mbarara to transport relatives of prisoners for visits (15 have benefited).
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RLP interventionsLegal Interventions• Legal representation before courts of law -43 cases (4 kigo, 9
Hoima, 14 Masindi, 14 Katojo, and 3 in Kyegegwa). • Legal advice on SGBV, refugee rights and obligations, court
processes• Community policing and information sessions on crime
prevention, RSD processes, rights and obligation of refugees • Training on refugee law and other policy documents, on roles
in protection• Round table discussions with key stakeholders
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Networking, Advocacy and Capacity building
• 90 prison officers trained (Prisons Instructors, Barracks & Security Prisons Officers, and Murchison Bay )
• 74 Police Officers trained (CPS and Wandegeya)
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Round table discussions
• 43 police officers, Commissioner from CID Headquarters, Commissioner - Gender Desk, Director Police Medical Services, Police Surgeons, CID officers, Child and Family Protection Unit officers, Community Policing officers, State Attorneys, UNHCR, InterAid
• Reduced reported cases and more referrals
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Gaps
• Limited human resources to offer legal and psychosocial support
• Limited Interpretation services within the Justice Law and order sector
• Confidentiality during Counseling sessions
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Recommendations • Detention should be used as a last resort. Alternatives to
detention should be explored.
• Strong network between civil society organizations and prison authorities to assist forced migrants in need of legal assistance through referrals
• Greater use of paralegals in the criminal process to provide basic legal education, assistance and advice at a first aid level
• More counseling for forced migrants
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Thank you for listening