THE HAGUE, 03/10/03 - Rape, violence and intimidation of women is taking place in a large number of asylum seekers' centers, according to a survey commissioned by Integration Minister Rita Verdonk. She intends to introduce measures to separate men from women, she has written to the Lower House.

The research institutes Pharos and TransAct established that almost 60 percent of the asylum seekers' centers in the Netherlands reported one or more cases of violence between residents in the past six months. In 23 percent of the centers, women had been hit by their husbands or fellow residents. About 18 percent reported rape or forced prostitution, according to the researchers, who termed the situation "disquieting".

Verdonk plans to create separate areas with kitchens and bathroom facilities where female asylum seekers can lock themselves in to be protected against their husbands or fellow residents. As a trial, single women will be given completely separate areas in some centers. Under-age girls will always be accommodated completely separately, primarily to protect them from forced prostitution.

The minister will also set up a registration system in order to monitor the number of incidents from now on. Personnel in the reception centers will be trained in dealing with violence. Finally, the minister considers it extremely important that "clear sanctions" are imposed for cases of misconduct towards women and girls, but what these should be remains unclear for now.