The UK's treatment of asylum seekers falls "seriously below" the standards of a civilised society, the interim report of the Independent Asylum Commission (IAC) says.
The commission was set up to conduct a nationwide review of the UK asylum system and make credible recommendations for reform. Over the last year, the commission heard testimonies from a large number of individuals and organisations from all sides of the asylum debate.
The IAC's interim report said the asylum system denied sanctuary to some in need and the treatment of some asylum seekers was a shameful blemish on the UK's international reputation. It also said the system is marred by inhumanity in its treatment of the vulnerable.
In response to the publication of the Independent Asylum Commission’s findings Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said:
“The Government must listen to the Independent Asylum Commission”
“The Independent Asylum Commission is composed of well respected, highly experienced individuals, they’ve heard from a wide range of people, including three former Home Secretaries, and they’ve taken eighteen months to consider the evidence and come up with their findings. What they’ve concluded is that from decision making to deportation, from the widespread use of detention to the policy of enforced destitution, our asylum system is deeply flawed, treats vulnerable people in an inhumane way and brings shame on the UK. Such findings cannot be ignored or brushed aside, and we hope Ministers will take time to reflect on what the IAC has said and make the changes in public policy that are badly needed. “
“It is true, as the Commission has acknowledged, that some aspects of the asylum process have improved in recent years. But the fundamentals are still wrong. The first duty of an asylum system is to provide safety to people fleeing persecution; protection should be at its heart. We need a much more fair and humane approach – including a genuinely independent decision making process, an end to the widespread use of detention, an end to the policy of enforced destitution, and the restoration of asylum seeker’s entitlement to work. If these steps were taken, trust and confidence in the system would be restored and other issues, including returning those who don’t need protection, could be addressed. “
Ends
More information
See video recordings of some of the testimonies to the commission:
Human rights TV: IAC channel
More on the Independent Asylum Commission:
Executive summary of the report
Independent Asylum Commission website
Reports in the news
Independent: 'Inhumane and oppressive': the final verdict on Britain's asylum policy
Independent Leading article: A system that could do much, much better
BBC News: Asylum system 'shameful for UK'
Guardian: UK's asylum system 'marred by inhumanity'
