Asylum is a human rights issue. Given the tone of public debate in the last few years, you could be forgiven for not realising that, or having forgotten it. Asylum policy is about ensuring that people who have suffered appalling persecution are given the protection they’re entitled to. That’s not mentioned very often either. So it was heartening to see a room full of people at the Lib Dem conference in Liverpool for a discussion organised by the Refugee Council and UNHCR on ‘Asylum Policy: Honouring Our Refugee Protection Commitments’.
The meeting brought together Tom Brake MP, Roland Schilling (UNHCR UK Representative), Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council and Abdul Turay, who fled persecution in Liberia in 2002. Julian Huppert MP was in the chair.
The Lib Dem presence in the coalition has already brought about positive changes in the asylum system – the commitment to end the detention of children, the decision to grant protection to people who have been persecuted on the grounds of their sexuality. People at the meeting were keen to explore what more can be done to push the rest of Lib Dem asylum agenda forward. There were lots of questions on detention and destitution, with activists eager to see progress made now that the party is in government.
It was noted that for the first time in many years, there’s some political space in this area. There are real opportunities to make changes which will save government money and give asylum seekers dignity. And they’re changes that Lib Dems have long called for – permission to work for asylum seekers and an end to the practice of indefinite detention, for instance.
Continued Lib Dem support for these policies is vital. Next year is the 60th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention, which has saved the lives of countless people fleeing persecution. The Lib Dems should mark this anniversary by seizing the moment to push for further changes to improve the lives of refugees and asylum seekers. Surely this is one of the best ways to honour the commitment to refugee protection, which sadly is needed today as much as it was 60 years ago.
Marilyn Croser is Campaigns and Parliamentary Manager at the Refugee Council
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3 Comments
Thanks for this info for us non-Conference goers, Marilyn. I hope we are able as a Party to seize these opportunities, and there are many of us out in the country who would help if we could. Unfortunately, I was not encouraged by the later TV Leaders’ debates, and the apparent fall in our party support on immigration matters in general as a result of the spotlight placed on these issues.
In her conference speech Lynne Featherstone claimed that the commitment to ‘not return LGBT asylum seekers to danger’ had been met and pointed to Theresa May’s welcome for the Supreme Court decision in July which ended the ability of UK Border Agency (UKBA) to tell people to ‘go home and be discrete’.
But UKBA refusniks have simply stopped saying that and instead are refusing to believe that asylum applicants on sexuality grounds are gay. This case is an example http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/09/17/gay-nigerian-asylum-seeker-faces-deportation/ but I am aware of many others. One, a Ugandan tortured by police, was in appeal court this week despite 3 signed affidavits from former partners.
The commitment is not met just because of the Supreme Court decision. UKBA is still trying to send people back to danger. I have seen or heard nothing to suggest that the extent of entrenched homophobia and the culture of disbelief in the Home Office is understood or being challenged by Liberal Democrats in government.
Words mean nothing to those at the sharp end of Border Agency and judicial homophobia.
Thanks Tim and Paul for your comments.
When the spotlight falls on immigration it tends not to illuminate the issue, and the distortion of the LD position during the election was a depressing reminder of the absence of sensible, informed debate in this area. Politicians of all parties need to take a lead in trying to address this, rather than seeking to make political capital out of it.
The culture of disbelief in the Border Agency is disturbing and needs to be challenged. The Agency is supposed to be accountable to government so if you come across cases like these, contact your MP and ask her/him to raise it with Damian Green, and keep raising it within the party. That’s the only way anything will change.