Asylum Update 28th April 2010
28 April 2010
Research
The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR has published its 2008 Statistical Yearbook
Iraq: civilians under fire is a new report from Amnesty International. See also Belfast Telegraph coverage
Journal article: The Iraqi Refugee Crisis: Whose Problem Is It? (Existing Obligations Under International Law, Proposal to Create a New Protocol to the 1967 Refugee Convention, & U.S. Foreign Policy Recommendations to the Obama Administration) by Rita Bettis in Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems Vol 19; No 1.
Country Report: Sri Lanka – new from UNHCR’s Country of Origin Research and Information (CORI).
New report from Homeless Link: Homelessness among migrant groups: a survey of homelessness and refugee agencies across England
Law and policy
The European Commission has published Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens: Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme including key measures to increase cooperation in the field of asylum. See also press release and coverage in EurActiv and Le Monde
Recent High Court judgements have covered both welfare obligations towards refused asylum seekers; and the right to appeal against the Home Office’s refusal to treat new submissions as a fresh asylum claim. See Garden Court Chambers’ bulletin
Persecuted Yemeni Jews to be given sanctuary in Britain - from the Independent newspaper.
Elections 2010
All three of the main party leaders have signed the asylum election pledge promoted by the Refugee Council and Liberty.
Meanwhile the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) has launched its Right to a Voice campaign to win candidates to supporting free English classes for asylum seekers from the time of their arrival.
Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson has criticised Lib Dem promises to allow asylum seekers to work.
Asylum in the manifestos (continued from Asylum Update 14 April):
The Scottish National Party manifesto opposes the detention of the children of asylum seekers
The Plaid Cymru manifesto extends this to the detention of all newly arrived asylum seekers, and supports their right to work.
The Democratic Unionist Party manifesto proposes measures to limit asylum applications.
The Sinn Fein manifesto has a section on refugees and asylum seekers which proposes measures to provide greater support and address cross-border issues.
Events
10 May - 7 June, Irish in Britain Seminar Series 2010 Irish Studies Centre, London Metropolitan University.
Friday 12 May: 'Refugee Contribution to British Life': Lecture by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams at University College London. RSVP by 5 May for invite.
Resources
The Directory of London Agencies: Learning Activities for Asylum Seekers is produced by NIACE and the Refugee Council and lists agencies supporting asylum seekers without access to publicly funded adult learning provision.
