From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...

I saw them tell one of the other women, if she didn’t respectthem, they would put her in segregation. This made me afraid,because I hear it is very cold in segregation.During the interview LK described symptoms of anxiety anddepression that she first noticed in Africa, but which became “muchworse” during her six months in jail. Symptoms of depressionincluded difficulty sleeping and crying easily. More serious were LK’ssymptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which began after herarrival in the US. These included intrusive memories of trauma, startledresponses to movement and noise, and the sensation of reliving traumaticevents.After six months, LK was released and allowed to travel to Canadawhere she joined her mother. Immigration officials there granted herpermanent resident status.Since her release, LK’s state of mind has improved. During a follow-upinterview she stated, “I have regained hope - I felt abandonedbefore.” She cited as helpful having “things to do” and “friends toplay with when I want.”However, the effects of her detention linger, and she exhibited astrong emotional response to reminders of her six months inside.Sometimes at home, when I am alone, I think about my detention.Sometimes this makes me cry. They should never put youngchildren like me inside there. I did nothing wrong. Why was Idetained? How could they detain a child?detention can be very harmful to refugee children, it must be ‘used only asmeasure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time,’”state the UNHCR’s Guidelines on Refugee Children (quoting the Conventionon the Rights of the Child). 181 Furthermore, as stated in these guidelines“The child should be given the benefit of the doubt if the exact age isuncertain.” 182180UNHCR Guidelines, Guideline 6.181UNHCR, Refugee Children Guidelines, Chapt. 7 Personal Liberty and Security, Sec. IVDetention.182UNHCR Unaccompanied Children Guidelines, sec. 5.11AGE DETERMINATIONS/DENTAL EXAMINATIONS 135