Church of England votes for better treatment of asylum seekers
The Church of England’s governing body, the Synod, voted 242 to one to support the call to let people seeking asylum work. The Synod also said that a solution was needed for those who are refused asylum but cannot return to their home countries and that children and families should not be detained.
Reverend Ruth Worsley, who raised the motion, said, “The financial cost to our country as well as the human cost which leaves people in limbo for years, not knowing what their future might hold, seems unconscionable.”
Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said:
“We welcome their call for permission to work for asylum seekers, many of whom are left destitute and in a terrible limbo. We hope the government will give full consideration to Synod’s proposals.”
The Independent: Leading article: Letting asylum seekers work
BBC News: Church call for asylum law change
Telegraph: Synod votes for asylum amnesty
Inspire Magazine: Notts priest’s campaign for justice goes national
Ekklesia: Church of England’s synod may back asylum seekers’ right to work
Refugee Council report reveals high levels of sexual violence among refugee women
Interim findings by the Refugee Council’s Vulnerable Women project found that out of the 153 women supported by the project, 76% had been raped and 35% had suffered some sort of violence. The project also found that women who had been refused asylum in the UK were often subjected to further forms of sexual violence, through forced prostitution or by lacking a safe place to live.
Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said:
“We are all aware that rape and sexual violence are commonplace in conflict situations, and our project confirms this. However, what is truly shocking is that women continue to suffer when they come to the UK.”
Full Refugee Council press release: Shocking new evidence of rape and sexual violence among refugee women
Read the reports
Politics.co.uk: Three quarters of refugee women ‘have been raped’
Communitycare.co.uk: Sexual violence against refugees at home and here
The Law Gazette: Asylum laws putting women at risk
Health secretary opposed to denying asylum seekers access to GPs
Alan Johnson MP told the British Medical Association he did not believe in proposals to extend restictions on primary health care for asylum seekers.
“I understand all the points made by the clinicians we consulted, about the public health risks, the sheer inhumanity of refusing to treat people who are ill in primary care. We haven’t come to a final decision on this within Government, but I know where I want to be on this, ” he said.
Pulse: Alan Johnson: ‘Sheer inhumanity’ of denying asylum seekers GP care
Charity says government not doing enough to help refugees with HIV and Aids
The charity Crusaid released a report revealing that 55% of people with HIV and AIDS awaiting asylum wait over four years for a Home Office decision on their case. During this time many find it difficult to access healthcare and are refused any kind of economic support.
Neil Gerrard MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees, said:
“I think it is really striking – the change over the years of the number of people who are coming to the Cruisaid Hardship Fund who are also in the immigration system.”
Pink News: Home Office is failing HIV+ asylum seekers, claim charity
17,000 asylum files lost by UKBA
17,000 files containing personal data of refugees and their families applying to stay in Britain have been lost by the UK Border Agency. The amount was revealed in the immigration minister Phil Woolas MP’s response to a parliamentary question.
A UKBA spokesperson said that the files had been lost while being moved between different offices and storage facilities and that they represented 0.2 per cent of the total number of files held.
The Observer: 17,000 asylum seekers’ files lost
Family compensated for trauma of being held in detention
A refugee family who were taken in dawn raids and held for 57 days at Yarls Wood detention centre have been awarded damages of £150,000 by the High Court.
The children have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and were kept in detention despite the concerns of Bedfordshire Social Services and a psychologist.
The family have since been granted refugee status.
The Independent: Asylum detainees win record payout
Birmingham Mail: Payout for refugees traumatised by raids and detention in Dudley
Refugee footballer picked for England
Fifteen year old Saido Berahino, originally from Burundi, has signed to West Bromwich Albion’s youth academy after gaining his first England cap in a substitute appearance against Scotland in November.
Birmingham Mail: Refugee signs for West Brom Academy - and plays striker for England
ILPA updates
The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association released new updates on the withdrawal of the seven year child concession, the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill, the transfer of judicial review and changes to policy on removlas and judicial review.
Seven Year Child Concession(PDF)
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill (PDF)
Transfer of Judicial Review(PDF)
Removals and Judicial Review(PDF)
