Asylum Update May 20th 2009
20 May 2009
Research
The UK Borders Agency has published its quarterly asylum immigration statistics for the first quarter of 2009, with supplementary tables also available. See press release including Ministerial comments.
The Ministry of Justice has just published a Review of existing evidence of the experiences of minority groups based on ethnicity, identity and sexuality which looks at BME groups, Gypsies and Travellers, refugees and asylum-seekers, and LGBTs.
The Second Destitution Tally An indication of the extent of destitution among asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and refugees, by Kate Smart is a new policy report by the Asylum Support Partnership. See press coverage by The Guardian
Refugee Support has published the report ‘Over not out’, which examines the housing and homelessness issues specific to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender asylum seekers. See also the executive summary. Contact Charlotte Keeble for hardcopies.
Mental health issues in unaccompanied refugee minors is a Journal article by Huemer, J.; Karnik, N. S.; Voelkl-Kernstock, S.; Granditsch, E.; Dervic, K.; Friedrich, M. H.; Steiner, H. in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Vol 3.
Policy and Law
The Home Affairs Committee, House of Commons has published its sixth report of session 2008–09 The Trade in Human Beings: Human Trafficking in the UK.
See also the Home Affairs Committee fifth report of session 2008–09 on the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL].
UKBA has announced tough new regulations for immigration advisers. See coverage by The Guardian.
Also, UKBA has published a revised draft of the proposed Protection Rules that will accompany the Immigration Simplification Bill when it is introduced in Parliament.
See joint response by the Refugee Council and Refugee and Migrant Justice
and
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has published the latest version of its strategic plan Legal aid- fair access to justice, covering the period 2009-2012.
Current policy and legal developments on European Union citizenship is the topic of this month’s Eurasylum policy interview, by Prof. Rainer Bauböck, Director of the EU Observatory on Citizenship (EUCITAC).
UNHCR has published a Guidance Note on Refugee Claims relating to Female Genital Mutilation.
News
Events
City of Sanctuary National Conference, in Sheffield on Wednesday 3rd June. This day conference is free, but places are limited so advance booking is essential.
The next Refugees into schools information and training day will take place in London on Friday 17th July. Email Education Action for details.
Publication Launch: ‘Irregular migrants: the urgent need for a new approach', by the Migrant Rights Network, in London on Tuesday 2nd of June.
Resources
Free Training for RCOs is offered by the Welsh Refugee Council in partnership with Displaced People in Action & Children in Wales, from June to September.
EIDOC Project provides advice and support to asylum seeking children, young people and families who experience immigration detention. It is run by The Children Society and BID.
Kakuma News Reflector (KANERE) is a refugee free press devoted to independent reporting on human rights and encampment.