Our fortnightly news review is a summary of the stories and discussions that took place on asylum and refugee issues in the media over the previous two weeks. It also includes summaries of the Refugee Council's activities.
Week 28 November - 15 December 2005
Please note the next new review entry will not be until 09 January 2006
The Independent on Thursday, 15 December, published an extract from a speech by Maeve Sherlock, the Chief Executive of the Refugee Council given to the British Institute of Human Rights on 08 December.
Read the Independent extract: Maeve Sherlock: 'The place of asylum in our new moral landscape'
Read the speech in full: Closing the door: the UK’s erosion of the right to asylum
The Guardian Society section on Wednesday, 14 December, covered the difficult circumstances facing the many asylum seekers who now have to pay for hospital treatment. Many are too afraid to seek help while confusion amongst health professionals mean that those who do, are sometimes turned away.
Read the Guardian: Forced to go it alone
The Refugee Council launched its new campaign on destitution and the right to work 'Locked into poverty, locked out of work' at the beginning of December. Thousands of asylum seekers face poverty and destitution as government policies result in the removal of benefits and the refusal to allow them to work. Find out more in our campaigns section.
At a press conference on 12 December, the Refugee Council spoke in support of Zimbabwean asylum seekers who are facing destitution this winter as they are unable to return to Zimbabwe since it has been ruled in a tribunal as unsafe but are also unable to work or claim benefits.
Read: "We don't want support from the state, we want to be given the chance to work for ourselves"
Refugee Council Press release: End destitution for Zimbabweans and give them the right to work, say MPs
The week previously, the new Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and 44 bishops and church leaders wrote a letter to the Times saying it was "inhuman and unacceptable that some people seeking asylum are left homeless and destitute by government policies" and asked that they have "the opportunity to help themselves and society through paid employment".
Read: Archbishop of York calls for right to work to end destitution of asylum seekers
The Archbishop's letter came after Church Action against poverty organised a march in Leeds against asylum destitution on Sunday, 04 December, is part of their new ‘Living Ghosts’ campaign to change government policies that make those people seeking asylum destitute. The Refugee Council also warned of the destitute winter facing many Iraqi Kurds following the withdrawal of section 4 support from those refusing to sign up for so-called “voluntary” return to Iraq.
Refugee Council Press release: Refugee Council backs pilgrimage in support of destitute asylum seekers
Refugee Council Press release: Refugee Council issues stark winter warning on destitute asylum seekers
Sign an e-card protesting against destitution of asylum seekers as part of the Church Action on Poverty campaign on destitution
Also, the Refugee Council issued a joint submission with Oxfam to the Home Affairs Committee Inquiry into Immigration Control. It focused on the impact of extra-territorial UK immigration controls on refugees and asylum seekers.
Read: Joint response to the Home Affairs Committee Inquiry into Immigration Control
Senior Immigration Judge P Moulden ruled at a hearing of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) at the end of November that a gay man should be given asylum in the UK because of the threat to his safety if he returned to Jamaica. The ruling said the country’s authorities are failing to offer protection to sexual minority groups. Although the Home Office have conceded before that authorities in Jamaica do not offer protection to lesbian and gay victims of persecution, it could still appeal the AIT decision.
Read: Asylum success could see more gay protection
And finally, the campaigning group, SOS Immigration, is leading a call for the government to halt all removals of asylum seekers to the Democratic Republic of Congo. A BBC World Service investigation, broadcast earlier in December, found that returned refugees were detained in the DRC's notorious prisons.
In the course of her investigation, World Service reporter Jenny Cuffe found there was a real climate of fear and repression in Kinshasa, that the authorities view failed asylum seekers as opponents, and sometimes detains them without trial in prisons where they receive no food, or access to basic amenities, and are mistreated. Now SOS Immigration are launching a petition which will be presented to the Home Secretary Charles Clarke in the hope that he will stop removals.
Week 15 - 27 November 2005
On Sunday, 20 November, the Home Office confirmed that it had forcibly removed 15 Iraqi asylum seekers to Iraq. The following press releases were issued by the Refugee Council as the events over the weekend unfolded.
Response to reports that forced removals are planned (Thursday, 17 Nov)
Statement calling on Government to not go ahead with forced returns (Saturday, 19 Nov)
Response to the forced removal of 15 Iraqis (Sunday, 20 Nov)
Last week, Home Office Asylum Statistics for the 3rd Quarter this year showed applications have remained steady, but are down from 2004 levels.
Read the Refugee Council summary: Asylum applications steady for this year but down from 2004
On Thursday, 24 November, Leeds Today Evening Post, covered the sad story of an asylum seeker, Sharif Aliyow, and his family who have been the target of arson attacks and may be forced to leave Leeds for fear of further reprisals.
Read Leeds today: Arsonists driving out asylum seeker
Week 01 - 14 November 2005*
The big story over the last two weeks was that the House of Lords unanimously upheld the appeal court ruling that the policy known as section 55 breached human rights. Section 55 was introduced in January 2003 and is the policy of refusing welfare support to asylum seekers who do not claim asylum immediately upon arrival. It was overturned by a court judgement in 2004 that ruled it was breaching asylum seekers human rights
Read: Our press statement on the ruling
Read the BBC: Lords throw out key asylum rule
The children's charity Barnardo's also released a report last week strongly criticising section nine of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 which forces failed asylum seekers and their families to leave the country by stopping all benefits if they do not leave voluntarily. The policy is being piloted in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and parts of London, where confused council officials say section nine is at odds with their legal responsibilities to protect children.
Nancy Kelley, the Refugee Council's head of UK and international policy and one of the report's authors, said in the Guardian that the number of families who had gone into hiding had almost certainly risen since her research."If 35 families out of 116 in the pilot have gone underground out of fear, that number will increase exponentially if the policy is rolled out nationally," she said.
Read the Guardian: Asylum measure inhuman and disastrous, says report
We also produced a parliamentary briefing on the counter terror clauses in the Immigration, Asylum & Nationality Bill 2005 prior to the bill's Third Reading and Report Stage in the House of Commons (16 November 05). This is the last time a bill is debated in the House of Commons before it passes to the House of Lords.
See: Refugee Council Parliamentary Briefing on Immigration, Asylum & Nationality Bill Counter Terror Clauses
*Please note that the News Review is now fortnightly
Week 25 - 31 October 2005
As expected, the Government introduced new counter terror clauses into the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality (IAN) Bill, which could have serious implications for refugees and asylum-seekers. The bill has passed through its Standing Committee stage, one of the many stages it needs to pass before coming law.
Maeve Sherlock, Refugee Council Chief Executive and Tim Finch, Director of Communications, attended and contributed to last week's All Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe meeting, which discussed the plight of Zimbabwean asylum seekers following the recent court ruling.
Organised as part of the Year of the Volunteer and CSV Make a Difference Day, actor Cyril Nri, Superintendent Adam Okaro from the popular TV series The Bill and and BBC Radio 2's Reverend Canon Roger Royle joined fifty volunteers for 'Integration through Decoration' on Saturday, 29 October, and helped redecorate the Refugee Council's One Stop Service in Brixton.
Read: Celebs join volunteers to help 'make a difference' for refugees and asylum seekers
Week 17 - 24 October 2005
The Minister for Immigration, Asylum and Nationality, Tony Mc Nulty, has indicated that the 21 Iraqi nationals currently in detention will be released on bail providing there was no risk of them absconding.
Read: Home Office to release detained Iraqi nationals [21 Oct 2005]
The Refugee Council London conference 'Refugee Children: Safeguarding the future of those hardest to protect' was held last Thursday, 20 October. In his keynote speech, Professor Al Aynsley-Green, England's first Children's Commissioner, said that he was concerned by the issues facing children of refugees and asylum seekers and in particular the plight of children in detention. The conference was attended by over 180 delegates.
Independent: Asylum children being held in 'awful' conditions
See also: Refugee Council Conference on refugee children
Week 10 - 16 October 2005
The big story of the week was the ruling from the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) in an important test case, which said that failed asylum seekers from Zimbabwe should not be sent back. The ruling lifts the threat of imminent removal from many Zimbabweans, particularly those who took part in the hunger strikes in detention centres during the summer. The AIT was particularly critical of the government's lack of evidence or information on what has happened to those who have been returned.
The Refugee Council had a prominent role in the public campaign to stop removals to Zimbabwe and featured in the media coverage of the ruling, with interviews on BBC TV and radio, ITV, Sky and numerous other outlets. In statements and interviews, we have been calling for the government to restore its moratorium on removals to Zimbabwe, which is the only sensible and humane thing to do at this time.
Read our news story on the tribunal
Read our press release on the outcome
Last Tuesday, we held our volunteering fair for refugees and asylum seekers in London and the South East. The aim of the event was to help to raise awareness amongst the refugee community of the wide range of volunteering available to them in their area.
There was wide diversity of volunteer opportunities on show with organisations such as the Royal Free Hospital, the British Heart Foundation, The Confederation of City Farms and Community Gardens, The Fairtrade Foundation and Westminster Volunteer Centre attending with details and information.
Week 04 September - 09 October 2005
Eleven of the many volunteers who help and support the work of the Refugee Council have won awards in the Year of the Volunteer Awards.
Read: Refugee Council's volunteers win CSV awards
| On Sunday, 09 October, Refugee Council supporters attended the film premiere of Emma Thompson and Colin Firth's new film, Nanny McPhee, in Leicester Square, London. All proceeds from ticket sales were donated to the Refugee Council which amounted to £10,000! Read: Film Premiere in Aid of the Refugee Council |
The Government's programme of forcibly returning failed asylum seekers to Iraq is expected to result in a maximum of only 20 people being expelled from Britain, according to a leaked Home Office paper. The paper also acknowledges Refugee Council concerns that no airport in Iraq is approved by the international civil aviation authorities and that flying civilian aircraft into Baghdad is unsafe.
Guardian: Asylum leak reveals only 20 Iraqis will be sent back
The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) to look at new evidence of the current situation in Zimbabwe started on 05 October. It is expected to run for a couple of weeks as the Judge hears arguments from both sides. Deportations were suspended since August following the adjournment of 4 cases that had been brought by lawyers representing Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers.
Week 27 September - 03 October 2005
We went to the Liberal Democrats and Labour party conferences and co-hosted meetings with UNHCR and IPPR. The theme of the meetings was to challenge each party about how it can be successful by taking a positive attitude on asylum.
Read: Refugee Council at the party conferences
On Saturday, 01 October, we also supported the Zimbabwe vigil outside the Zimbabwe Embassy on the Strand in London. Held every Saturday, the focus of this week's vigil was to draw attention to the plight of the unsuccessful Zimbabwean asylum seekers who face deportation. A tribunal hearing their case is to be held on 05 October.
For photos and more information, read: Refugee Council joins protest against Zimbabwean deportations
Week 21 - 26 September 2005
Last week, four refugee teenagers who attend our social evening for unaccompanied minors were given free tickets to attend a new play -Crocodile Seeking Refuge - at the Lyric Hammersmith, London. For most of them, the play, which was about the the lives of people who have sought refuge in the UK, was their first experience of attending a theatrical production. The tickets were donated by the play's production company - Ice and Fire.
Crocodile Seeking Refuge, which is supported by the Refugee Council, tells the story of five people who have been forced to flee in the face of death and each is haunted in a different way by the past. Finding themselves in situations that veer from the comic to the tragic they try to make sense of the British way of life. It runs from 20 September – 08 October 2005.
More information: Lyric Hammersmith and Ice and Fire productions
Week 12 - 20 September 2005
The saddest story of the week was the death of Manuel Bravo took his own life in a desperate attempt to save his 13 year old son from being deported with him to Angola. Mr. Bravo hanged himself less then a day after he was detained in Yarl's Wood detention centre for asylum-seekers in Bedfordshire.
Read: Asylum seeker kills himself so his son can remain in UK
We released a briefing on the government's new immigration, asylum and nationality bill 2005 summarising the key changes that will affect asylum seekers and outlining our main concerns.
Read: Immigration, asylum and nationality bill 2005: key issues and concerns
On a happier note, Sudanese rapper, Emmanuel Jal, returned to our weekly social evening for refugee minors along with MTV who filmed the rapper entertaining the young people who he has found a rapport with since coming to the UK.
Week 05 - 11 September 2005
Naaz Coker, the chair of the Refugee Council's Board of Trustees, has been included in the Asian Power 100, a list of the most influential and successful members of the British Asian community.
Read: Naaz Coker, Chair of the Refugee Council, included in Asian Power 100 list
Naomi Eisenstadt CB, Director of Sure Start, Extended Schools and Families Group will be the keynote speaker at the Refugee Council's conference on 'Refugee Children: Safeguarding the future of those hardest to protect ' being held in York on 9 November 2005.
See: Refugee Council Conferences
We also issued a response to the final draft NASS policy bulletin on dispersing asylum seekers with healthcare needs, where we concluded that the bulletin provides insufficient information and guidance to ensure that NASS caseworkers safeguard the healthcare needs of asylum seekers and refugees. We recommended that NASS links the policy bulletin to the Department of Health National Service Frameworks to ensure consistency in delivery of services within NHS system.
Read: Refugee Council’s response to the final draft NASS policy bulletin on dispersing asylum seekers with healthcare needs
Week 30 August - 04 September 2005
The week began again with Section 9, which removes support from unsuccessful asylum seekers, still in the spotlight. Bury council agreed to house a family faced with eviction after their benefits were stopped. Newspapers also reported on other families being affected under the pilot scheme for Section 9.
Read: Councils demand urgent review on Section 9 legislation
A report Refugees and the Development of Africa: Eritrean refugees in the UK was published last week. Based on interviews with over 400 Eritreans whose asylum claims have been rejected by the Home Office, the report documents on the effects on the Eritrean community. The report was supported and sponsored by the Royal African Society, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Eritrean Education Trust, Eritrean Elders Welfare Association and Migrant and Refugee Communities Forum.
Read: New report documents the toll of destitution faced by Eritrean asylum seekers
The European Commission issued its proposals last week on a package of immigration/asylum measures including common EU legislation on removals of unsuccessful asylum seekers and illegal immigrants and new legislation on migration and asylum statistics. A joint NGO statement was also issued on removals, which was signed by the European Council of Refugees and Exiles (ECRE).
Read European Commission press release: Commission adopts major package of measures in the field of immigration and asylum
Read the ECRE press release: European Commission's Proposals Contradictory say refugee NGOs
Guardian: Home Office studies impact of EU asylum plans
Week 22 - 29 August 2005
The week continued with the story of failed Iraqi asylum seekers who have been detained pending their forced deportations to Iraq. The Home Office claimed that they could be returned to Northern Kurdish-controlled Iraq despite refugee groups, Kurdish politicians and the UNHCR warning that the volatile situation in Iraq means that no-one should be forced home.
A plane was due to take some of the Iraqis back on Sunday, 28 August but the deportations did not take place. In a court hearing on Friday 26 August, Mr. Justice Andrew Collins observed it would be "improper" to enforce the removal of asylum seekers until a pending court of appeal ruling on the a case of a Kurdish-Iraqi asylum seeker, Abbas Amin, was determined. However, the Home Office have said that forced deportations would take place. Protests, supported by the Refugee Council, took place on Thursday and Friday last week to protest against the introduction of forced removals.
The Refugee Council met with the Home Office to discuss the current situation where we emphasised the devastating effect government policy was having on the Iraqi community and tried to seek a more compassionate way forward. The Refugee Council is also planning to meet with Iraqi community support groups over the next few weeks to keep them up to date on the current situation and its implications.
Read: Refugee Council joins protest on Iraqi removals
Read: Kurdish leader says not right to send Iraqi failed asylum seekers home
Elsewhere, the ramifications of a pilot scheme implementing Section 9 legislation were becoming clear with with reports of three families having their benefits cut. Two councils refused to evict the families, who now are relying on voluntary agencies and friends for support and sustenance.
Read: Section 9 comes into the spotlight as family face eviction
The Refugee Council also signed up to a campaign spearheaded by the London's Mayor's office expressing concern that the new terror laws will alienate the communities whose 'cooperation is indispensable to the work of the police in fighting terrorism'.
Read: Refugee Council signs up to multi-agency statement on new terror laws
Finally, the asylum statistics for the 2nd quarter of 2005 were published last week showing that the number claiming asylum has gone down again. The Refugee Council responded by saying that the government could no longer measure the system by numbers alone. Margaret Lally, Deputy Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said "The measure of a good asylum system is not in the numbers it turns away but in its ability to identify refugees who need protection and give it to them."
Read: Asylum applications continue to fall
Read: Refugee Council calls on Government to stop measuring asylum policy by numbers alone
Week 15 - 20 August 2005
The newspapers continued with their coverage of the detention of Iraqi asylum seekers pending their forced removals. The Refugee Council's statements against this new development was covered in the Guardian, the Mirror and the Times.
The Refugee Council put together a briefing on a number of important developments on several asylum policy issues relating to Iraq as well as a briefing on a new court judgment that could see a number of refused Iraqi asylum seekers entitled to 'indefinite leave to remain.' We also updated our current advice and information sheets for Iraqi asylum seekers.
The Refugee Council has submitted, along with seven other agencies, a response to the Government's emergency consultation on their proposals to extend their powers to exclude or deport people from the UK.
| Our weekly social evening for refugee minors received a boost this week from the Jack Petchey Foundation who gave a grant of £5,000 towards its costs. Stephen Corriette, Grants Manager at the foundation said: "Every young person here has a skill, talent or special contribution to make to our society; in awarding this grant, the Jack Petchey Foundation endorses the valuable work that the Refugee Council is doing to support young people in London." |
Read: Iraqi failed asylum seekers detained in preparation for forced removals [16 Aug 2005]
Refugee Council's briefing on the current situation facing Iraqi asylum seekers:
Read: Iraq - return and Section 4 support
Read: ILR entitlement for some Iraqi asylum seekers
Refugee Council's updated advice on Iraq for asylum seekers:
Read: Are you from Iraq and applying for Section 4 support?
Read: Are you from Iraq? Have you been refused refugee status?
Read: Joint response to Home Office consultation on extending exclusion or deportation powers
Week 08 - 14 August 2005
It was confirmed last week that Iraqi asylum seekers were being detained in preparation for their forcible removal to Iraq. The Refugee Council was very concerned by this new direction and issued a strong statement against it. Margaret Lally, Deputy Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said “We are appalled by these developments. All anyone needs to do is watch the news to see just how dangerous Iraq is at the moment. There is no evidence that the situation in Iraq is improving at all."
Read: Refugee Council's statement on the current situation facing Iraqi asylum seekers
Read: Daily Mirror:'Safe' for Iraqis to go home
Week 01 - 07 August 2005
On Wednesday, 03 Aug, the Refugee Council was proud to be part of a solidarity vigil that took place outside the High Court in support of the Zimbabwean asylum seekers who are awaiting the decision of a High Court hearing on whether it was unsafe to deport failed asylum seekers back to Zimbabwe. Around 100 supporters joined the Refugee Council and the United Network of Detained Zimbabweans (UNDZ) at the vigil which began at 5pm the evening before the hearing and ended midday Thursday 04 July.
Read: Refugee Council's vigil supporting Zimbabwean asylum seekers (includes pictures)
With news that the cases would be adjourned pending an Asylum and Immigration tribunal, he campaigners jumped for joy and dancing in the streets after the High Court hearing. The Refugee Council was proud to have played a prominent role in the vigil and we will continue to fight for justice for Zimbabwean refugees. The story was quite well covered in the national media with the Refugee Council spokespersons being interviewed and quoted several times.
Read our Special Report: Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers have short reprieve from deportation
Earlier in the week, Maeve Sherlock, chief executive of the Refugee Council, issued a statement expressing our concern over some newspapers articles that appeared to be scapegoating asylum seekers by attempting to draw a link with the suspected bombers. The statement was quoted in the Guardian. The Refugee Council remains vigilant about articles with inappropriate messages and tone and will take the matter further if it continues.
Read: Refugee Council expresses concern over newspapers scapegoating asylum seekers
Week 25 - 31 July 2005
As the media reported that two of the suspects in the failed London bombings of 07 July were refugees, some newspapers appeared to be scapegoating asylum seekers. The Refugee Council is keen to stop this style of reporting and issued a statement to this affect. We also plan to write to the Press Complaints Commission to ask them to remind editors of their duty.
Read: Refugee Council expresses concern over newspapers scapegoating asylum seekers
The Refugee Council also asked our campaigners to join us on Wednesday 03 August for a vigil in support of the Zimbabweans facing deportations. Their deportations has been temporarily suspended pending a court hearing on 04 Thursday morning.
Read: Special Report: Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers facing deportation
Week 18 - 24 July 2005
The government last week issued a statement that from 30 August 2005 people given refugee status will no longer qualify automatically for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) but instead will be given leave to remain for 5 years. We issued a statement expressing our concerns that this qualifying period for ILR is unnecessary, costly and will make it even harder for people who are trying to put down roots
Read: Our press release
Read: The government statement
Two reports this week revealed two separate problems with the use of detention. The National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report that the government will fail to meet its target for the removal of failed asylum seekers if it depends only on arresting and detaining more people due to be deported. Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's report on Oakington detention centre revealed a sub-culture or abuse and casual racism amongst some of hose working with asylum seekers at the centre.
Read: Our news item on the NAO report
Read: Our press release on the NAO report
Read: Our press release on the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's report
On a happier note, the chair of the Refugee Council's trustees, Naaz Coker, has received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Leeds Metropolitan University. Naaz was awarded the Doctorate to honour her service to the NHS and for her work with refugees and asylum seekers.
Read: Our news item about Naaz Coker receiving her honorary doctorate.
The Refugee Council also took part in the National Refugee Football Tournament in Leeds with our team 'Friends of Birmingham' coming runners-up.
Read: The 'Unity Cup Festival'
See: Photos of the team
Week 11 - 17 July 2005
The MP Neil Gerrard introduced an 'Early Day Motion' (EDM) on Refugee Status and Leave to Remain on 12 July 05. An Early Day Motion, or EDM, is a motion tabled by a Members of Parliament calling for a debate on a particular subject. In practice, there is rarely time to debate all EDMs but they enable MPs to draw attention to an issue and to canvass support by inviting other Members to add their signatures in support of the motion.
Neil Gerrard's EDM 569 is as follows:
"That this House is concerned at the proposal in the Government's five year strategy for asylum and immigration to end the practice of granting indefinite leave to remain in the UK to people who are given refugee status and to replace this by up to five years' temporary leave to remain; believes that while this may not be legally incompatible with the provisions of the 1951 Geneva Convention, it is a retrograde step since it reverses the policy of granting indefinite leave introduced by the Government in 1998 without any evidence either that problems have arisen as a result of the current policy or that other countries which grant only temporary leave benefit as a result; is further concerned that the uncertain position this will put refugees in is totally inconsistent with other Government policies to assist the integration of refugees in the UK; further believes that this will inevitably lead to inhumane decisions when refugee families with children are threatened with removal after living in the UK for several years and establishing family life, leading in turn to further pressure on the immigration appeals system, and the caseload of honourable Members; and urges the Government to abandon this unnecessary change."
Read: Neil Gerrard's EDM 569
Read: the list of MPs who are supporting EDM 569
On Wednesday, the Education section of the Guardian reported on how the government's policy of dispersing asylum seekers across the country can have devastating effects on their children's education. A report was carried out by Cambridge University's faculty of education, was funded by the General Teaching Council and the National Union of Teachers.* It found that as dispersal policy is governed by housing considerations, not enough support is available for families or schools in helping children of asylum seekers with the special needs they usually require. However, they also found that some schools and local education authorities have found their own effective strategies.
Read: Guardian: Another day, another school*
Read: General Teaching Council for England: The education of asylum-seeker & refugee children
*Please note there is an error in the Guardian article. The report was not funded by the Refugee Council.
The Zimbabwean Asylum seekers received a temporary reprieve last week as the Home Office officially announced it would wait until the 04 August's court hearing before considering any deportations. Those who were on hunger strike temporarily ended it until the court hearing.
Read: Special Report: Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers facing deportation (updated regularly)
Week 4 - 10 July 2005
The media continued to focus in the early part of the week on the plight of the Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers, many of whom are still on hunger strike and still face an uncertain future. Although there is generally perceived to be an unofficial halt on deportations, that hasn't prevented many individuals going through the trauma of almost being sent back only to receive last minute reprieves.
Read: Special Report: Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers facing deportation (updated regularly)
Week 27 June - 3 July 2005
There was a lot of media focus this week on the plight of the Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers who were on hunger strike to protest against the lifting of a ban that prevented their deportation. Pressure mounted on the government through the week with the national media, church leaders, support groups and the public demanding for the Zimbabweans not to be sent back.
The Times reported that immigration officers were told to halt deportations, while the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, told the House of Commons that he would meet with the Refugee Council and UNHCR. He also agreed to study any new evidence on behalf of the failed asylum-seekers from Zimbabwe.
Read: Special Report: Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers facing deportation
In other news, the Independent reported on the sad story of a teenage asylum seeker's suicide after being in detention for 5 months.
Read: Teenage asylum seeker commits suicide while in detention
On Wednesday, the all party parliamentary group on refugees held a meeting for MPs to explain and discuss the new Immigration, Asylum & Nationality Bill, prior to its second reading in the House Commons on 05 July 2005. The Refugee Council's Director of Communications, Tim Finch, gave a presentation on our concerns about the new bill to the meeting.
Read: Refugee Council concerns on the new Immigration, Asylum & Nationality Bill
Week 20-26 June 2005
It was a busy week at the Refugee Council with the launch of Refugee Week and the new Don't believe the type campaign, as well as the publishing of a new asylum bill and the growing concern over the plight of the Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers facing deportation. Elsewhere, a comprehensive documentary on Radio 4 looked at the flaws in the asylum process, including the quality of decision making of asylum cases.
- Refugee Week 2005
Refugee Week went well with thousands of people across the country participating in events and celebrating the contribution refugees have made to British life. One of the highlights was the speech made by the Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks on 21st June in the House of Commons to mark Refugee Week, which is now available online. The Refugee Council also co-organised a seminar on Wednesday, 22 June 05, on Why Women Flee-Women's Persecution (report available soon).
Read: Chief Rabbi gives speech in House of Commons to mark Refugee Week
Read: Full transcript of the Chief Rabbi's speech
Find out: About future events in our online diary
Find out: About Refugee Week
- Don't believe the type
The Glastonbury Festival not only saw floods and mudslides but also the launch of the Refugee Council's groundbreaking new campaign, Don't Believe the Type, aimed at drawing attention to the state of the public debate on asylum and start a major fight back on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers.
The launch included the acclaimed hip hop artist Rodney P performing the 19:51 Glastonbury Declaration on the Right to Asylum 2005 written exclusively for the Refugee Council by the award-winning writer Patrick Neate. The Declaration was performed on the Left Field stage at 19:51 on Saturday 25 June to reflect the year the United Nations Refugee Convention was signed, and is supported by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR.
The Refugee Council also launched a new website to support the campaign - www.dontbelievethetype.org.uk. The website encourages the public to sign up to help campaign and gives tips on how they can help. There is also a special section on the events at the Glastonbury Festival.
Visit: The new Don't believe the type website
Read: The 19:51 Glastonbury Declaration on the Right to Asylum 2005
Read: The Refugee Council press release
- New Asylum Bill
Tony McNulty, Immigration Minister, published the new the new Immigration and Asylum Bill. The Refugee Council issued a statement expressing disappointment that the bill did not address the fundamental problems of the asylum process and criticising the plan to leave refugees living in limbo for five years before giving them the right to settle in Britain.
Most media concentrated on measures to tackle illegal immigration. which were also included in the bill, and in particular, on the threat of fines for employing illegal nannies or au pairs.
Read: The Refugee Council press release
- Zimbabwe
The times published a story on how 41 failed asylum seekers from Zimbabwe were on hunger strike at detention centres across the UK to protest against the lifting of a ban that prevented their deportation. By the weekend, the number on hunger strike had risen to 57 and the chorus of voices calling on the government not to deport the Zimbabweans had grown. By Monday, a government statement was expected and the future of the failed asylum seekers remained unknown.
Read: A summary of the issue and list of news stories from last week
Read: The Refugee Council press release
- File on Four
On Tuesday, File on Four, BBC Radio 4's current affairs programme revealed several flaws in the asylum process. They highlighted the problems faced by "Section 4" claimants who have been refused asylum but cannot be returned home as it is too dangerous. File on Four found that many are selling their subsistence vouchers, which were scrapped for all other categories of asylum seekers in 2001, to get cash to buy bus fares and other basic services. File on Four also revealed flaws in the decision-making of the asylum process, where there was concern over the experience of and support given to new case workers.
Hear: File on Four on the BBC Radio 4 website
Week 13-19 June 2005
The week began with the papers reporting on the Immigration Minister, Tony Mc Nulty's revelation that the government was abandoning its plans to open centres to accommodate asylum seekers following a series of planning disputes over prospective sites.
The Refugee Council welcomed the decision. Maeve Sherlock, the Chief Executive, said "“It is much better to house asylum seekers within the community - it leads to better community relations and helps integration for those who are finally allowed to stay."
On Wednesday a report came out saying that asylum seekers have generated new jobs and economic growth in Glasgow. Experts at the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde estimated the impact resulted in the creation of nearly 500 jobs and £10m worth of wages, mostly for Glasgow.
Elsewhere, the Refugee Council was gearing up for two big events in its calendar - Refugee Week and the launch of our new campaign 'Don't believe the type' at Glastonbury. The new campaign will also be launched online on Friday 24 June 2005.
The Refugee Council activities supporting Refugee Week started out in England's summer heatwave with our contribution to "Celebrating Sanctuary", the annual series of festivals which showcase the achievements and vibrant life of the UK refugee communities.
Thousands of people enjoyed themselves at events on London's South Bank and in Birmingham, with dance, music and other arts performances from around the world - and some great food on offer too.
Further Details of the Refugee Council website:
Refugee Week website
Report shows the contribution asylum seekers make to the economy
Rural asylum centre plan scrapped
