Refugee policy and research blogs

Self-Archiving Guide: Unpublished Papers

EEM — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:15:00 -0800

Protecting People in Conflict and Crisis- Responding to the Challenges of a Changing World (22-24 September 2009)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:45:32 -0800

Exchange of thoughts and recommendations

Some “reflections” (PDF file) on the key themes that emerged from the conference have been developed by Simon Addison, Senior Research Officer & Policy Programme Manager at the Refugee Studies Centre.

We invite you to share your thoughts and reflections on what were for you the most relevant and innovative themes and issues presented and discussed. We would also welcome receiving your suggestions and recommendations on how to move the protection debate forward at a research, policy and practical level. Please add your thoughts and reflections to this page.

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Reflections on an International Conference (PDF file)

Things to do in December

EEM — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:15:00 -0800

Legal Items: Asylum/EU, ECHR & Human Trafficking Victims, Gender & Refugee Convention, IDPs & Intl. Law

EEM — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:20:00 -0800

International Conference: Deportation and the Development of Citizenship

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:54:39 -0800

11-12 December 2009
Department of International Development, 3 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TB

We are pleased to inform you that it is now possible to register in order to attend the conference on Deportation and Development of Citizenship on 11-12 December at the University of Oxford (map).

The aim of this conference is to encourage interdisciplinary and comparative scholarship on deportation, broadly conceived as the lawful expulsion power of states, both as an immigration control and as a social control mechanism. The conference will serve as a vehicle for bringing together scholars from a range of disciplines, including politics, sociology, history, international relations, law, criminology and anthropology, interested in the study of deportation.

Confirmed guest speakers include Prof. Daniel Kanstroom, Prof. Antje Ellermann, Prof. Annemarie Sammartino, Prof. Catherine Dauvergne, Prof. Deirdre Moloney and Dr. Darshan Vigneswaran.

The programme of the conference (PDF file) is available and you can register online.

If you have any questions, please e-mail emanuela.paoletti@qeh.ox.ac.uk

Conference
Conference programme (provisional) (PDF file)

Publications: Civilian Protection/DRC, Humanitarian IT, Preparing for Future Humanitarian Impacts, Tibetan Diaspora, Women/Colombia

EEM — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:38:00 -0800

New Issues of IJRL, J. Afr. Law, JEMS, Migration, Prehosp. & Dis. Med.

EEM — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:30:00 -0800

Self-Archiving Guide: Journal article eprints

EEM — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:00:00 -0800

Asia Focus: Round-up of Resources

EEM — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:30:00 -0800

Publications: Environment & Migration, Horn of Africa Refugees/Australia, Intl. Law & Detention, Mental Health/UK, UK Media & Marginalized Groups

EEM — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:30:00 -0800

American Political Science Association Papers

EEM — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:15:00 -0800

Silk Road to Guantanamo: The Story of Adel Hakimjan

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:19:41 -0800

The film ‘Silk Road to Guantanamo: The Story of Adel Hakimjan‘ is now available to view online. Silk Road to Guantanamo shows the plight of ex-Guantanamo Bay inmate Adel Hakimjan, a Chinese Uighur, who was abused, persecuted, traded, and falsely imprisoned. There will be a screening of the film at the Blue Boar Lecture Theatre, Christ Church College, University of Oxford, on Tuesday, 17th November 7.30pm-9.30pm. After the screening there will be a Q & A with the film’s director Simon James and Enver Tohti, chairman of the UK Uyghur Association.

Audiovisual: Detention, Human Trafficking, Migrants/Greece, Peace Media, Refugee Film Makers/Kakuma, Refugees/Malta

EEM — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0800

Book Reviews of "Human Rights Overboard" and "Rethinking Asylum"

EEM — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:50:00 -0800

Publications: Asylum Seekers/US, Boat Arrivals/Australia, Burmese Refugees/China, Humanit. Resp. Index, IDPs/Africa, Internal Displ. & Armed Conflict

EEM — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

Publications: Eligibility/Kosovo, Human Trafficking, Refugees/Wales, Returnees/Burundi, Unacc. Minors

EEM — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:45:00 -0800

New Issues of Dev. Outreach, E&RS, EJML, J. Immigr. Minor. Health

EEM — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Book Review of "International Refugee Law and Socio-Economic Rights: Refuge from Deprivation"

EEM — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:44:00 -0800

Global Forum Blog

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:48:52 -0800

MRN’s director, Don Flynn, is in Athens from 1-5 November, attending the meetings around the 2009 Global Forum on Migration and Development.� The GFMD is a unique forum bringing together, in its different components, representatives of official governments and also of key stakeholders from civil society. Also organising at the GFMD is the People’s Global Action for [...]

Publications: Accountability/Humanitarian Staff, Africans/Europe, Climate Refugees, Human Trafficking, Refugee Protection/Central America, UNHCR Plans

EEM — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:57:00 -0800

New Issues of HRQ, Researcher, J. Common. Law & Legal Ed., J. Peace Res., Soc. Hist. Med.

EEM — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0800

Publications: Diasporas, Early Recovery, Forced Migration/Uganda, Kampala Decl., Migrants/Greece, Refugees/South Africa, Separated Children/UK

EEM — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:20:00 -0800

Anyone fancy a trip to Zimbabwe?

Hannah Ward — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:45:35 -0800

By Innocent, Communications team

Like most Zimbabweans living in the UK, I was baffled by the UK Government’s ill-timed decision to consider forced removals to Zimbabwe. I find it ironic that the Government claims its decision reflects the new reality in Zimbabwe following the formation of a new government in the country last year. If anything, it revealed to me just how out of step the UK Government is with the fast-paced political developments in Zimbabwe.

For starters, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Cabinet Ministers from his MDC party have begun boycotting the power sharing arrangement. They’re protesting at the escalation of state-sanctioned intimidation and violence against their party officials and supporters, and against Mugabe’s resistance to political reforms. In characteristic fashion, Mugabe’s party has responded by doing more of the same. Amnesty International warned this week that Zimbabwe is on the brink of sliding back into the post-election violence that marred the country last year.

On top of that, to demonstrate its cavalier attitude to the international community, Mugabe’s government barred the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture Manfred Novak from entering the country even though he had been invited by Prime Minister Tsvangirai. This incident made it clear where real power still lies in Zimbabwe. And as the Novak himself observed, there were clearly parts of the government who did not want him to assess "the current conditions of torture".

With internecine conflict wrecking the power sharing arrangement amidst reports of rising repression across the country, it is a great shock to many Zimbabweans here that the UK Government should decide to reinstate its returns policy. The enhancements to the voluntary returns package available to Zimbabweans are of course welcome. However, it is important to allow people to choose to return freely without the implicit stick of forced removal hovering above them.

Events & Opportunities: CFPs, Courses, Fellowships, Meetings

EEM — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:15:00 -0800

New Book Chapter: Country of Origin Research

EEM — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:10:00 -0800

Update on U.S. Domestic Violence Asylum Claims

EEM — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:05:00 -0800

Four Years of Forced Migration Current Awareness!

EEM — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:45:00 -0800

New Resources on Statelessness

EEM — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:45:00 -0700

Publications: Detention Alternatives, Palestinian Displacement, Sexual Orientation, Sri Lankans at Sea, Unacc. Minors/France

EEM — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:10:00 -0700

Legal Items on SSRN

EEM — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:13:00 -0700

And finally, the Conservatives... and a visit to Newcastle

Hannah Ward — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:01:53 -0700

By Jonathan, Policy and Development team

Last week we were off to Manchester for the Conservative Party conference, where we held a fringe meeting with the Red Cross and the Still Human Still Here campaign coalition. Our meeting was chaired by Alistair Burt MP and there were speeches from David Ndiwanyu, a social entrepreneur and refugee leader from Bradford, Sir Nicholas Young (Red Cross), Julian Prior (Centre for Social Justice) and our own Donna Covey.

Sir Nicholas spoke about the need for policy solutions to end the destitution of asylum seekers and for the need of an asylum policy to be proud of.

Donna referred to the 70th anniversary this year of the start of the second world war and how important it was to defend the central principles of the 1951 refugee convention. She also spoke about the need to get asylum decisions right first time and to abolish the detained fast track for asylum seekers.

Julian spoke about the need to tackle public confusion around asylum in the midst of wider migration and described destitution as being absolutely immoral.

Yet the key speech came from David who gave his personal story about why he had to come to the UK and his experience as an asylum seeker in the UK. He expressed his surprise at the hostile reception that he had received when arrived here and that he had not been expecting benefits but had wanted to work.

Then I left Manchester to attend the World Day for Decent Work event in Newcastle held jointly by the Northern TUC and the Regional Refugee Forum North East. This was an inspiring event as it focused on hearing individual stories from people who had come to this country seeking safety and had been denied the entitlement to work. We heard from some amazing people who had been denied the chance to use their skills.

There were also speeches from young people seeking asylum who, while they were in support of the work campaign, made the point that they were being denied access to higher education. They spoke of attending schools in the UK, but at the age of 18 being unable to join their friends at university as asylum seekers are classed as overseas students and have to pay much higher rates.

It was an inspiring event and a powerful example to the rest of the country of how refugee groups and trade unions can come together with a common purpose of campaigning for asylum seekers to be able to work!

The Refugee Council - leaders of the Guilt Industry?

Hannah Ward — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:42:15 -0700

By Hannah, Communications Team

An interesting end to a hectic week came by way of a Mr Jeff Randall, in a lively if slightly baffling piece in the Daily Telegraph. Hot on the heels of a storm of media interest in the closure of the camps in Calais sheltering hundreds of migrants and refugees, Mr Randall wrote that the Refugee Council, along with the BBC and the Labour Party, is leading what he calls the 'Guilt Industry'. He says of the closing of the camps 'A migrant camp is demolished in Calais and guess what? Yes, we are expected to wrestle with remorse' and describes the target of this guilt industry as 'largely, but not exclusively, Britain's middle classes'.

Clearly we have no intention of making anyone feel guilty. We draw attention to the plight of people who are persecuted, who are victims of war and torture survivors, and ask for compassion when they arrive in Britain. So we wrote to the Daily Telegraph to request a right of reply. They asked us to write a letter to the editor, which we duly did, but sadly it was never printed. So here for you, exclusively, is our response to Jeff Randall:

Sir,

We would like to reassure Jeff Randall (‘Bad news for the rest of us – the Guilt Industry is booming’, 25 September) that he is in no way responsible for the millions of people who flee their homes each year to escape persecution, and he, as with others like him, has no reason to feel guilty about it. Neither should he or anyone else feel guilty about being successful – in fact it is thanks to people like him that this country’s wealth is sustained, therefore allowing it to continue to take in refugees and offer them the chance to rebuild their lives in safety. Indeed, it is the Refugee Council’s heartfelt aspiration that the refugees we help to overcome torture and persecution will rebuild their lives so successfully that they will join Mr Randall and his fellow high-achievers in their detached houses in leafy suburbs, and get a great education for their children. Nothing would make us happier.

Donna Covey

Chief Executive, Refugee Council

And so to Brighton, and Labour...

Hannah Ward — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:08:16 -0700

By Jonathan, Policy and Development Team

Just back from Brighton where we held our fringe event on Wednesday together with the Red Cross and the Still Human Still Here campaign coalition.

We were keen to use the event to explore the argument of whether asylum policy was damaging community cohesion, and we were delighted that the Minister at the Communities and Local Government (CLG) department with responsibility for community cohesion, Shahid Malik MP, was able to join us and make a speech.

As ever with these events, and with it being the last night of conference, we wondered would delegates show up. But our worries soon vanished as people started to appear and by the start of the meeting it was standing room only – our session seemed to have caught delegates’ imagination!

Donna, our chief executive, was able to make a number of strong points about how the positive community cohesion policies from CLG were being undermined by the current asylum policy.

She pointed to asylum seekers not being able to work when work is such a crucial factor in community cohesion. She stressed the importance of English Language and how asylum seekers were blocked from accessing language training for the first six months. She also questioned how the practice of granting just five year leave to stay as a refugee and the use of ‘administrative’ detention could ever help to build community cohesion. She also emphasised the role of refugee community organisations in community cohesion but how they were struggling financially in part due to earlier government statements on so-called ‘single interest group’ funding.

Donna was followed by strong speeches by Nick Scott Flynn and Eric Nkundumumbano from the Red Cross who spoke eloquently about his own experiences seeking asylum and now helping others as a volunteer with the Red Cross. He highlighted in particular the cases he sees of people who have had their claims refused and are forced into destitution. A vigorous discussion ensued, we got a great response and our idea of using CLG community cohesion policy to measure asylum policy did seem to resonate with the audience …. And now next stop Manchester!

The boot’s on the other foot now…

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:38:17 -0700

The government must be feeling pretty sheepish now that attorney general Baroness Scotland has been caught out by the tough regulations on immigration status and employment which she helped to get through the House of Lords just three years ago. I’d imagine few businesses will be able to muster much sympathy for Baroness Scotland, as they [...]

Next stop: Liberal Democrats

Hannah Ward — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:07:04 -0700

By Jonathan, Policy and Development team

On Sunday evening we held our fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat conference, on the theme of communicating asylum in the General Election. The day had started badly for me when I had been handing out leaflets inside the conference centre, and was accosted by a steward who asked me to leave the building and leaflet outside. But all the delegates were by then inside the building! Would anyone show up? But just as we started the event, delegates began to stream in.

The star of the show was undoubtedly one of our volunteers who has been seeking asylum since 2003. He gave a powerful personal testimony describing why he had to leave his own country; he caught the first available flight which happened to be to the UK, was detained twice, forced to live on supermarket vouchers and denied the right to work.

The meeting also heard from Donna our chief executive who argued that asylum must be seen as an important and distinctive element in the wider debate on migration. She also referred to our ‘tell it like it is’ leaflet and the importance of promoting the key facts on asylum in the midst of so many myths.

We then heard from Fiyaz Mughal, who is adviser to the Liberal Democrat leader on Interfaith and Tackling Radicalism and Extremism. He also made a powerful speech and was particularly keen to make the link between foreign policy and asylum policy.

In the discussion that followed the speeches, there was a constant theme of the need for politicians to show leadership on this issue and to speak up for asylum seekers and refugees. I left the meeting feeling energised at the passion and support that there was in the room on this issue. Now onto Brighton for the Labour conference, where Shahid Malik MP, Minister for Communities and Local Government is speaking at our event on the links between asylum policy and community cohesion.

Podcast: Protecting People in Conflict & Crisis: Opening address: Protection space

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:10:09 -0700

FMO has launched the first of a series of podcasts recorded at the Protecting People in Conflict & Crisis conference, held by the Refugee Studies Centre (in collaboration with the Humanitarian Policy Group) between 22th and 24th September 2009 at Harris Manchester College, Oxford. The opening address was given by Erika Feller, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, UNHCR. Further details about the conference can be accessed on the event page.

Gender Against Men

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:00:56 -0700

The film ‘Gender Against Men‘ is now available to view online. Gender Against Men exposes the hidden world of sexual and gender-based violence against men in the conflicts of the Great Lakes Region. The film demonstrates how male identities are under attack and how rape when used as a weapon of war affects husbands, fathers, brothers and the community. The film is a production of the Refugee Law Project, Faculty of Law, Makerere University.

Gender Against Men will also be shown as part of Refugee Studies Centre and Humanitarian Policy Group’s international conference on Protecting People in Conflict & Crisis.

Forced Migration Review: Protracted displacement

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:46:01 -0700

Issue 33 of Forced Migration Review: Protracted displacement is now available in the digital library (FMR is one of five journals available).

Increasingly, growing numbers of displaced people remain displaced for years, even decades. This latest issue of FMR includes 29 articles by academic, international and local actors which assess the impact of such situations on people’s lives and our societies and explore the ‘solutions’ – political, humanitarian and personal.

The issue also includes a spotlight on the ‘internment camps’ in Sri Lanka and a mini-feature on Collective centres, plus a selection of articles on other aspects of forced migration such as rights and responsibilities in Darfur, smuggling in South Africa, IDP health needs in Colombia, climate change agreement talks, peace mediation, and community resilience in East Timor.

FMR is also published in French, Spanish and Arabic and the other language editions will follow soon.

A resource summary to complement FMR 33 is now available on Forced Migration Online and provides links to related key resources websites and documents.

Full Issue

FMR 2009, No. 33: Protracted displacement

Individual Articles

A BiD for freedom

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:54:38 -0700

The news last year that the UK will be expanding its detention capacity by 60% as part of ‘getting tough on immigration’ was in many respects a jaw-dropping announcement. The UK detention system already stands out in comparison to many other EU countries. 30,000 people were held in immigration detention here last year. Unlike other countries [...]

Jenin

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:17:02 -0700

The film ‘Jenin‘ is now available to view online. Jenin is a documentary film depicting the events before, during and after the Israeli invasion of the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank on 5 April 2002. Produced by the Palestinian Return Centre and directed by Mohammed Bakri, the film documents the events through a series of interviews with some of the Palestinians effected.

Jenin
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Resource summaries: 'Islam, Human Rights and Displacement' and 'Statelessness'

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:33:07 -0700

Two new resource summaries are now available on Forced Migration Online. The summaries on ‘Islam, Human Rights and Displacement’ and ‘Statelessness’ complement the 2009 Special Issue and Issue 32 of Forced Migration Review and provide links to related key resources, websites and documents.

IASFM 12 Conference: Boundaries of Community Podcast

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:00:15 -0700

The latest podcast in a series recorded at the bi-annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM) is now available online.

The Boundaries of Community plenary event was chaired by Paula Banjerjee and included Peter Schatzer, Helen Muggeridge, Anneliese Baldaccini and Patricia Coelho.

Geneva Conventions' 60th Birthday

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:26:45 -0700

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva conventions, which provide protection for the victims of armed conflict, both military and civilian, and which every nation has now ratified.

The fourth Convention, ratified on August 12, 1949, addressed the protection of civilians in armed conflict. It was negotiated in the aftermath of World War II, which took the lives of at least 60 million people, the majority of whom were civilians. The existing Geneva Conventions, which relate to the immunity of medical personnel on the battlefield and the treatment of prisoners of war, were extensively revised in 1949.

Keele University citizenship research

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:04:33 -0700

I was very interested to take part in a seminar discussion last week up at Keele University, to discuss research into the impact of the 2004 changes to naturalisation for foreign nationals. Headed up by Sherilyn MacGregor at the Keele School of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy (SPIRE), this research is particularly useful because it [...]

Mayor of London and migrant regularisation

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:29:05 -0700

The Mayor of London’s office published its long-awaited report yester, (16 June) on the Economic impact on the London and the UK economy of an earned regularisation or irregular migrants to the UK. Not the punchiest of titles, but an example of doing what it says on the tin…. The main report , which was compiled [...]

SOAS campaign in support of migrant cleaners

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:21:40 -0700

Many of you will be aware of the immigration raid which took place at SOAS University in London last Friday 12th June, in which nine contract cleaners were arrested by the UK Border Agency. Campaigners in support of the cleaners allege that they were targeted as a direct result of their union membership, and their previous involvement in a successful Living Wage Campaign for contract staff at the college. Five of the arrested cleaners have reportedly already been removed from the UK and two cleaners remain in immigration detention, awaiting removal.

Citizenship Bill hits the Commons…

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:39:40 -0700

Today the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill enters Committee stage in the House of Commons. Whilst the government has plunged into chaos during the past few weeks, this Bill has been quietly slinking its way towards Royal Assent - introducing a fundamental change in the way that foreign nationals become British citizens. Becoming a Brit [...]

European elections: What message for immigration?

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:44:33 -0700

Watched the results coming in until 1:30 last night, and the reporting on the outcomes from 7:30 this morning. Depressing though it was, my thoughts are that the election of two BNP and 13 UKIP MEPs have more to do with the disintegration of the centre left camp than a powerful ideological shift to the [...]

Launch of MRN new report on Irregular Migrants

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:52:47 -0700

It was a relief to get a good turnout for our meeting in Parliament last Tuesday (the 2nd) for the launch of our new briefing paper, Irregular Migrants: the urgent need for a new approach. The decision of the Parliamentary authorities to switch us one day before from Portcullis House to Westminster Palace is not [...]

A matter of identity

Wed, 13 May 2009 09:34:52 -0700

Last week the government ID card scheme came back into the news as Jacqui Smith announced a new plan of action to push it forward (news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8035002.stm). From October all residents of Manchester will be invited to take part in a voluntary ‘pilot’ programme. Airport workers are also being required to have ID cards later on [...]

Asylum Update December 9th 2008

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:05:20 -0800

Research

Journal article: Evidentiary Standards of Inquisitorial versus Adversarial Asylum Procedures in the Light of Harmonization by Staffans, L. L. in European Public Law Vol 14 No 4.

Since August the Home Office’s Country of Origin Information Service has published new Country Reports on Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kosovo, North Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey and Zimbabwe.

Policy and law

The Border, Immigration and Citizenship Bill has been brought forward. According to the UK Border Agency it will simplify and thereby replace all current immigration legislation. It will also “strengthen border controls, by bringing together customs and immigration powers, and to ensure that newcomers to the United Kingdom earn the right to stay”.

The Refugee Council has published a briefing on the Home Office’s management of ‘case resolution’ cases – the backlog of asylum claims previously known as legacy cases, which fall outside of those dealt with under the New Asylum Model and are now shared between the Case Resolution Directorate and Enforcement Teams.

An editorial in medical journal The Lancet has warned that children held in detention centres are not getting access to the healthcare they need. See also BBC News

The European Commission has proposed to amend within the next two years three of the legislative instruments of the Common European Asylum System: the Dublin Regulation, which determines the Member State responsible for an asylum application; the Directive on Reception Conditions for asylum-seekers; and the Eurodac Regulation, a database with the fingerprints of asylum seekers used to apply the Dublin Regulation. See also current ECRE newsletter for commentary and further background.

News

A Cameroonian woman has been awarded £38,000 damages for unlawful detention in Yarl’s Wood, on the basis the Home Office had mishandled her asylum claim after she informed them that she was a torture victim.

Resources

The Runnymede Trust has published Tell Me What I Need to Know – a guide for parents, especially from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME), Refugee, Asylum-seeking and Traveller communities to enable them to support their children’s education better.

The Refuge and the Fortress is a new book by Jeremy Seabrook marking the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA)’s 75^th anniversary. It charts British reactions to refugees from 1915 to the present, and highlights the work of refugee academics in the UK. See press review here

Asylum Update – December 3rd 2008

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:44:26 -0800

Research

The Refugee Women’s Resource Project (RWRP) has published Relocation, Relocation: the impact of internal relocation on women asylum seekers by Claire Bennett.

The International Journal of Refugee Law Vol 20 No 4 features an article by Robert Thomas on Consistency in Asylum Adjudication: Country Guidance and the Asylum Process in the United Kingdom

New Human Rights Watch report: Stuck in a Revolving Door: Iraqis and Other Asylum Seekers and Migrants at the Greece/Turkey Entrance to the European Union

Ethnic Conflict and Minority Refugee Flight from Post-Soviet Ukraine, 1991-2001 by Jeffrey Burds in The International Journal of Human Rights, Vol 12, No 5.

Policy and Law

The housing charity Shelter has published a new policy discussion paper – No Place Like Home? Addressing the issues of housing and migration which covers the needs of asylum seekers amongst other groups.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons has published a Report on an unannounced full follow-up inspection of Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre based on a visit made in May 2008. See also the official summary

Events

A right to a voice: Survival English for Asylum Seekers – launch of the NIACE Campaign. Wednesday 10 December, London.

Imkaan provides support to BAMER (black, asian minority ethnic and refugee) women’s refuges across the UK. They will hold their 10th anniversary AGM in London on Thursday 11^th December – email to reserve a place. In September Imkaar produced the briefing paper A Matter of Life and Death: The loss of specialist services for BAMER women and children experiencing violence

Resources

The Children’s Legal Centre has updated its Guide to Higher Education Entitlements for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

New Londoners: Reflections on Home is a collection of photographs and writing by 15 young refugees supported in their work by leading London photographers.

Asylum Update – November 28th 2008

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:33:36 -0800

Research

Accommodate – better together is a summary of the final evaluation report of ‘Accommodate’ – a refugee housing partnership project led by the Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (hact).

Mental healthcare of asylum-seekers and refugees by Helen McColl, Kwame McKenzie, and Kamaldeep Bhui in Advanced Psychiatric Treatment Vol 14 No 6.

Politics of Exception and Unease: Immigration, Asylum and Terrorism in Parliamentary Debates in the UK by Huysmans, J.and Buonfino, A. in Political Studies Vol 56 No 4.

Women’s Right to Asylum: Protecting the Rights of Female Asylum Seekers in Europe? by Freedman, J. in Human Rights Review Vol 9 No 4.

Policy and law

UNHCR have published a new Guidance Note on Refugee Claims relating to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) has with a recent decision reviewed the existing country guidance on Democratic Republic of Congo and extended the ‘risk categories’ to members of the Hema tribe. This immediately follows the AIT’s review of country guidance on Zimbabwe, with similarly profound implications for asylum seekers in the UK. See transcripts of DRC and Zimbabwe decisions, and Immigration Advisory Service statement on both decisions.

The Conclusions of the Asylum Conference held in The Hague on 22-24 October under the auspices of GDISC (General Directors’ Immigration Services Conference) have been published. The GDISC is an EU Member State Initiative aimed at improving the European asylum process and increase cooperation between member states on the issue.

Events

“The DRC, a Forgotten Emergency.” Saturday 29th November, 10:30-13:30 at Burngreave Vestry Hall, 2 Burngreave Road, Sheffield S3 9DD. Speakers include Meg Munn, Sheffield MP, and Noel Mbala, a former DRC minister.

The Evelyn Oldfield Unit, which provides specialist support for refugee organisations, is looking for a Chair. Its AGM will be held on 4^th December.

In Defence of Learning: Past and Present is a two day conference on 3-5 December hosted by the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics in London. In addition, on December 4 there will be an evening ‘conversation’ with 4 refugee academics from Sudan, Iraq, Algeria and Kurdistan. Booking via email

The Refugee Council’s Inclusive Secondary Schools action research project is hosting a national event on ‘Supporting refugee communities in secondary schools’ on December 12 in London. This follows its regional workshops. Contact Susanna Siddiqui for details and booking.

Resources

Border Country by Melanie Friend is a book of photographs and an accompanying audio CD documenting Britain’s Immigration Removal Centres and the voices of asylum seekers and other detainees held in them. See press review

The General Teaching Council for England has updated its Resource file on supporting asylum seeker and refugee learners

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has commissioned a new interactive map of minority groups in Britain.

The BASIS project has set up an e-forum for the exchange of information about refugee community organisation (RCO) fundraising.

New Philanthropy Capital has published a new downloadable report entitled Heads Up (Mental Health for Children and Young People – a Guide for Charities) which highlights the situation of young refugees and asylum seekers, amongst other vulnerable groups.

Asylum Update – November 20th 2008

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:56:18 -0800

Research

The UK Borders Agency has published Asylum Performance – 2007 in which it compares performance to targets, particularly in relation to removals. The report claims the number of refugee claims is at its lowest level since 1993.

At the same time the Home Office has published its quarterly immigration statistics including asylum for the third quarter of 2007, with supplementary tables also available. See also press release including Ministerial comments.

Papers Please: The Impact of the Civil Penalty Regime on the Employment Rights of Migrants in the UK is the first report in the Migrant Rights Network’s new Migration Perspectives series. See also article in Equal Opportunities Review.

Supporting disabled refugees and asylum seekers: opportunities for new approaches is a new research report produced by ICAR for the Metropolitan Support Trust and the GLA. See also press release, executive summary and launch event report

Journal articles

One Day We Had to Run?: The Development of the Refugee Identity in Children’s Literature and its Function in Education by Julia Hope, in Children’s Literature in Education Vol 39 No 4.

‘The new Europeans’: the image of the African refugee in European literature by Sissy Helff, in African and Black Diaspora Vol 1 No 2.

The Right to Seek – Revisited. On the UN Human Rights Declaration Article 14 and Access to Asylum Procedures in the EU by Gammeltoft-Hansen, T. and Gammeltoft-Hansen, H. in the European Journal of Migration and Law, Volume 10, Number 4.

Policy and law

In the latest Zimbabwean Country Guidance case, the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal has ruled that Zimbabwean asylum seekers in the UK unable to demonstrate loyalty to their current government will be at risk of persecution if removed.
The outcome of a Democratic Republic of Congo country guidance case is currently awaited.

A joint response to the draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill has been submitted by the Refugee Councils of England, Scotland and Wales. See also press coverage of evidence submitted by housing charities and the British Medical Association, all highlighting the potential impact on asylum seekers.

The Refugee Council and the Refugee Legal Centre have submitted a joint response to the Government’s proposals to create a new Tribunal structure for asylum appeals.

See also press coverage on expert witnesses at appeals.

News

New immigration minister Phil Woolas has criticised lawyers and advocacy groups acting on behalf of asylum seekers in a national newspaper interview. A number of such organisations have responded, including the Immigration Advisory Service

City Hall launch of ICAR research on disabled refugees and asylum seekers

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:11:22 -0800

ICAR’s new research into levels of support for disabled refugees and asylum seekers was launched at London’s City Hall on 14 November. The research was commissioned by the Metropolitan Support Trust (MST) and supported by the Greater London Authority (GLA).

A full house of 100+ participants including many of the organisations and individuals who participated in the research, spanning central and local government, statutory providers, and disabled, refugee and BAME organisations. The event was chaired by ex Minister for Immigration Barbara Roche, now chair of MST.

ICAR director Neil Amas introduced the research and highlighted two key findings: the gap in support for this group from mainstream disability organisations, with the strain being picked up largely by refugee community organisations; and the profound effect a disabled person’s immigration status has on the level of support they receive.

Claire Glasman, representing the women’s disability organisation WinVisible, raised her organisation’s concerns that many disabled asylum seekers experience extreme hardship due to restrictions in income, prevention from employment, denial of services and discrimination.

Jhon Marulanda for refugee community organisation the Latin American Disabled Peoples Project focussed on the difficulties users of the Project had in accessing statutory services such as GPs and Job Centres. He claimed that staff at these places often do not understand the rights and entitlements of disabled refugees and asylum seekers.

Disabled asylum seeker Iman Saab described the hardships of not being allowed to work, and instead having to get by on supermarket vouchers and subsistence payments from social services as opposed to normal disability benefits.

According to deputy mayor Richard Barnes, the research findings would ‘frame our vision’ in regard to the GLA’s equalities agenda. He also confirmed that in March 2009 the new four year Refugee Integration Strategy for London would be ready and, following regional policy elsewhere, a London Strategic Migration Partnership would replace the old Board for Refugee Integration in London.

In the discussion a number of the research findings were revisited, such as the effect of status on access to support, as evidenced by the recent Slough judgement on local authority support for disabled asylum seekers with no recourse to public funds, and by the increase in passport checks at GPs’ surgeries. Culturally appropriate training for frontline staff was one strongly supported recommendation, especially for NHS staff. Contributors to the discussion included social workers, the chair of NHS London Strategic Health Authority, and advocacy and campaigning groups.

Finally the participants broke up into workshops to discuss three of the report’s main recommendations, around refugee and asylum seeker access to mainstream disability organisations; relevant training across different types of organisations; and a proposed review of Home Office policies.

See:

Press release

Executive summary

Full report

Asylum Update November 12th 2008

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:49:52 -0800

Research

Trafficking in Persons in Afghanistan is a new report from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on trafficking both in and from Afghanistan, based on research conducted last year in Kabul and nine border provinces.

Moving Up Together is a new study by the Institute of Public Policy Research examining ‘why some migrant and minority communities in the UK are falling behind’ and relevant policy interventions. It focuses on people born in Bangladesh, Iran, Nigeria and Somalia.

The European Journal of Migration and Law Vol 10, No 3 contains:

Whose Rights and Which Rights? The Continuing Story of Non-Refoulement under the European Convention on Human Rights by Maarten den Heijer and Must EU Borders have Doors for Refugees? On the Compatibility of Schengen Visas and Carriers’ Sanctions with EU Member States’ Obligations to Provide International Protection to Refugees by Violeta Moreno Lax.

Environment and Planning D Vol 26 No 5 contains Domopolitics and disease: HIV/AIDS, immigration, and asylum in the UK by Ingram, A.

Child Care Health and Development Vol 34 No 6: Social support in unaccompanied asylum-seeking boys: a case study by Mels, C.; Derluyn, I; Broekaert, E.

Policy and law

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the future priorities in the field of Justice and Home Affairs policy, which covers asylum and refugees.
Meanwhile the European Civil Liberties Network has produced its own alternative questionnaire.

New Home Office minister Phil Woolas has stated that it would be disproportionately expensive to collate statistics on the number of people with exceptional leave to remain who have been refused settlement in the UK and whether having a criminal conviction in Britain was a reason for said refusal.

Events

Sir John Waite, co-chair of the Independent Asylum Commission, will give the 9th Annual Harrell-Bond Lecture entitled ‘Asylum: a new perspective.’ It is hosted by the Refugee Studies Centre and will take place in Oxford on Wednesday 19 November. Email Katherine Salahi to book a place.

‘Mental Health Matters: Issues for Asylum Seekers and Refugees’ features key note speakers from organisations like the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, Gofal, Mind Cymru and AWETU. It takes place at the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea on Wednesday 10th December 2008.

Launch of research report: ‘Relocation, Relocation – The impact of internal relocation on women asylum seekers’ by RWRP/Asylum Aid on November 27 at Garden Court Chambers, London, 6-8.30 pm. Email if you wish to attend.

The Refugee Council is hosting a series of regional workshops in November and December as part of the Inclusive Secondary Schools Project, which aims to encourage partnership work between schools and Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs).

News

A Congolese demonstration in Manchester protested against deportations to the DRC and the worsening situation in that country.

See also: Cameroonian returned to UK after passenger protest

The Border Agency plans to open a new immigration detention centre near Arncott, Bicester, would open in 2012 and house 800 people.

Asylum Update 4th November 2008

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:02:48 -0800

Research

Refugee Schooling: how the education needs of certain vulnerable groups are not being met by Dorling, K. in ChildRIGHT No 250.

Conflict and the Refugee Experience: Flight, exile and repatriation in the Horn of Africa, by Assefaw Bariagaber Earney, C. and Between vulnerability and assertiveness: Negotiating resettlement in Kakuma refugee camp, by Kenya Jansen, B. J. both appear in African Affairs Vol 107 No 429.

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the Right to be Granted Asylum in the Union’s Law in Refugee Survey Quarterly Vol 27 No 3 by Law Gil-Bazo, M.

The housing charity Shelter has published a new policy discussion paper – No Place Like Home? The paper examines the debate on housing and migration, including the housing needs of asylum seekers.

The July-September 2008 Accessions List for the Refugee Studies Centre Library is now available and contains details of new publications received by the Library.

Policy and law

The government has announced a pilot scheme to end the detention of families currently kept in Dungavel detention centre inn Scotland. See BBC and The Scotsman coverage.

The Refugee Council have published a response to the Department for Work and Pensions Green Paper, “No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility.” It has also along with Scottish and Welsh Refugee Councils responded to the UK Border Agency’s Consultation on ‘Strengthening the Common Travel Area’.

The Impact of the EU Qualification Directive on International Protection is a new ECRE study of the impact of the directive, which seeks to establish minimum standards for granting international protection in the European Union.

Events

‘Promoting integration of vulnerable migrant groups’ on Monday 24 November in London is the third in a series of seminars based on the findings of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Immigration and Inclusion Programme. New ippr research on the integration of Bangladeshi, Iranian, Nigerian and Somali migrants will be made available.

‘Supporting disabled refugees and asylum seekers: opportunities for new approaches’ is the title of the launch of new research commissioned to ICAR by Refugee Support, the refugee arm of the Metropolitan Support Trust. It will take place on Friday 14 November at City Hall, London.

Resources

Shelter has published a new guide: Asylum seekers and refugees: Accessing accommodation and housing support

Migreurop have updated their map of immigrant detention centres and camps in Europe.

Asylum Update – 23 October 2008

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:12:30 -0700

Research

UNHCR has published Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialized Countries, covering the first half of 2008.

The Home Office has published its immigration statistics including asylum figures for the second quarter of 2008.

What Are They Doing Here? A Critical Guide to Asylum and Immigration by Peter Fell and Debrah Hayes (Venture 2007) is reviewed in Vol 8 No 4 of the Journal of Social Work.

Policy and law

The European Council comprised of EU heads of state and the president of the Commission has adopted the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum. See EUObserver coverage.

The UK Border Agency has now awarded contracts for the Refugee Integration and Employment Service (RIES). The service is for over-18s with refugee status or humanitarian protection and started up on 1 October 2008.

See also the Refugee Council’s new Multilingual Leaflets for New Refugees on housing, welfare rights and training and employment.

The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, has announced an independent inquiry into claims by asylum seekers that they were mistreated or abused by security and detention centre staff, following publication in July of the Outsourcing Abuse report. See also press coverage

Events

Two new research reports into Chinese migration to Britain will be launched on 14 November at Middlesex University’s Hendon Campus. The reports are ‘Cityscapes of Diaspora: Images and Realities of London’s Chinatown’ and ‘The Changing Chinese Community in London’. Further information from Professor Rosemary Sales

News

Following a cabinet reshuffle, Phil Woolas has replaced Liam Byrne as Minister of State for borders and immigration.

Resources

A new interactive website developed by the Institute of Community Cohesion (ICoCo) and supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government, brings together practical advice and support for practitioners on how to promote cohesion and integration, based on good practice cases.

Radio 4 interviews with some of the young asylum seekers who contributed to the ‘New Londoners’ book of photographs.

Asylum Update – 15 October 2008

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:19:39 -0700

Research

UNHCR has recently published a series of new evaluation reports on different aspects of their work, including returnee reintegration programmes in the Sudan and Angola, voluntary repatriation, and human trafficking.

State failure and extra-legal justice: vigilante groups, civil militias and the rule of law in West Africa is a new report in the UNHCR series New Issues in Refugee Research.

A new report by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child entitled Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention looks at the situation of asylum seeking children in the UK in the context of international standards. See also UN summary and Institute of Race Relations commentary

The Refugee Council has published More Token Gestures – a research report on the experiences of asylum seekers who receive Section 4 voucher support.

Migrationwatch has published a Balanced Migration: A new approach to controlling immigration. The report places asylum and trends in asylum seeking numbers within the context of immigration as a whole.

The October issue of Forced Migration Review focuses on climate change and displacement. To coincide with this the ippr have released a full transcript of the conference held on the same topic in London in April 2008.

Policy and law

The Asylum Support Partnership presented its recent policy report Access to Legal Advice for Dispersed Asylum Seekers to the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum in September 2008. Forum members are expected to respond in November.

The UK Borders Agency (UKBA) has released a statement documenting its efforts to tighten border controls six months on from UKBA’s inception. Among the targets it is still pursuing it notes that it has “360 days to make and enforce 60 per cent of asylum decisions within six months, with alternatives to detention for children.”

A written statement on asylum seekers’ educational entitlements and sources of further guidance on the subject has been provided by David Lammy, the Minister of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills in response to parliamentary questions.

The European Parliament has adopted an amendment to the European Refugee Fund which creates a “Solidarity Mechanism” allowing refugees to be transferred from EU member states facing severe migratory pressure to other member states. See October 10 ECRE weekly update for further details and background documents.

Asylum Update – 9th October 2008

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:12:40 -0700

Research
Refugee Children: Towards the Next Horizon
Health and Social Care in the community
2008 16(5)
C, Watters and Dennis, J. Unaccompanied refugee children and adolescents:
The glaring contrast between a legal and a psychological perspective
International Journal of Law and psychiatry
2008 31(4)
Derluyn, I and Broekaert, E. The housing and neighbourhood impact of Britain's changing ethnic
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
October 2008
Perry, J.
Policy and Law
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has produced
a report that criticisesthe UK Government for failing to meet
international standards on the treatment of children. Following a six-month Home Office review of the
general reservation on immigration and citizenship to the UN
Conventionon the Rights of the Child (CRC) the UK government
has announced that the reservation will be withdrawn. This means
that vulnerable children who are subject to immigration control will
now be entitled to the fundamental human rights set out in the
CRC. UKBA have published a consultation on proposed reforms to the
immigration appeals process.

Events
Children's Service Network Conference
‘Are Asylum Seeking Children Safe in the UK?'
The conference is to be held on Tuesday 14th October in London.
It will examine the "tension between asylum legislation and policies
designed to support and protect vulnerable children", with speakers
from UKBA, IOM and other bodies.

News
The Home Office has launched an investigation into the alleged abuse
of asylum seekers during their detention and removal from the UK:
Under the Freedom of Information Act the Home Office has released
information on: 'Deportation of asylum seekers failed due to
disruptive behaviour by the passenger'. The Chief Inspector of Prisons has published a Report on an
announced inspection of Tinsley House and Yarl's Wood Immigration
Removal Centre carried out in March 2008.
Resources
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the Housing
Associations'Charitable Trust (HACT) have launched the first housing
rights website to be specifically aimed at answering housing rights
queries for new migrants.