UDI hits back at
The Immigration Directorate (UDI) reacts strongly to accusations made in the press on Friday. Siri Rustad says that the UDI has never intended to make women asylum-seekers responsible for their own safety.
 Violence at facilties for asylum-seekers may lead to better manning. PHOTO: KYRRE LIEN / SCANPIX |
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"We deeply deplore the fact that a rape has taken place at one of our reception centres. However, I have never talked about women being responsible for avoiding rape, says UDI department chief, Siri Rustad to news bureau NTB.
VG Nett writes on Friday, that the UDI says that women asylum-seekers have as much responsibility for protecting themselves from rape, as women living in any other type of accommodation. The story relates to the assault and rape of a 20 year-old women from Rwanda two weeks ago at a centre in Telemark.
Security at Norwegian reception centres for asylum-seekers has been criticised from several quarters recently.
"The attacker is responsible for rape. We have to protect women from unwanted attention, harassment and violence and the Police have a duty to ensure the safety of those living at the centres. However ordinary reception centres are not like a secure facility. We try to make them as similar to ordinary housing as possible, says Rustad.
Those who run reception centres have to ensure that men and women have separate bathroom and toilet facilities and that the tenants have locks on the door to their rooms. An annual review by the UDI, is supposed to ensure that these regulations are upheld. After the incident in Telemark, the UDI will look into whether more people need to be hired at the reception centres.
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