Asylum Update 29th July 2010
29 July 2010
Research
Asylum applicants and first instance decisions on asylum applications in Q1 2010 has been published by Eurostat. It reports over 50% less asylum applications made in Malta, Italy and Greece, compared to the first quarter of 2009.
Report to the Council of Europe on gender-related claims for asylum from the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population.
Analysis and assessment of Frontex's annual activity report by Frontex’s Management Board. See also Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) on Frontex's Joint Returns Operations.
Immigration policies in the EU: challenges and priorities by Biagio Speciale in Reflets et Perspectives de la Vie Economique Vol 49 No 2/3.
Alternative voices on integration in Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK is a new report from the Institute of Race Relations.
The Home Office has released Monthly Asylum Statistics - May 2010 available via the What's New section of its Research Development Statistics (RDS) division.
The Early Morning Phonecall: Somali Refugees’ Remittances by Anna Lindley (Berghahn Books 2010). Includes a London case study.
Asylum-seeking minors in interpreter-mediated interviews: what do they say and what happens to their responses? by Keselman, Olga et al in Child and Family Social Work Vol 15 No 3.
See also The Independent on removal threat to age disputed minor and CNN on children seeking refuge in Britain
The Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency has published two new reports:
UK Visa Section: Pakistan Settlement Applications
See also The Guardian
Law and Policy
UNHCR has published a Note on the Continued Applicability of the April 2009 UNHCR Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Iraqi Asylum-Seekers
The Supreme Court has rejected the Home Office appeal against its decision giving the right to work under European Union rules to asylum seekers with a fresh claim that have waited for more than a year for a decision. See also response from Minister for Immigration Damian Green here and in The Guardian
The Refugee Council has released its response to the High Court ruling on fast-track deportations issued on 26 July following a case brought by Medical Justice. See also ippr comment and Guardian coverage.
The UK Border Agency has issued new Operational Guidance Notes on Iran and Iraq
Dr. Julian Huppert MP for Cambridge (Lib Dem) will be the new Chair for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees.
Events
Thursday 9 September: Protecting Unaccompanied Child Asylum Seekers – improving local provision through multi-agency working conference organized by Westminster Briefing, London.
Friday 10 September: seminar on Research methods for new immigrant groups at the University of Manchester.
Thursday 7 October: The Global Classroom conference: to explore the role played by immigrants in shaping the education system. Organised by NASUWT. Speakers include Refugee Council.