Call for a ‘Distinctive Approach’ to Northern Ireland Asylum Policy

After conducting the most extensive review of asylum policy in the UK the Independent Asylum Commission will return to Belfast on Wednesday 23rd July to present the recommendations from its Saving Sanctuary, Safe Return and Deserving Dignity reports and urge that Northern Ireland take a ‘distinct approach’ to the treatment of those who seek sanctuary here.

The Commission has made over 180 recommendations to restore public support for sanctuary, and improve the way we decide who needs sanctuary, how we treat people while they are here, and what happens when a person is refused sanctuary.  The Commission has called for an asylum system that makes better decisions and treats people with greater humanity and dignity.

The Commission, which sought evidence from individuals and organisations from across the UK (including three former Home Secretaries) also held a hearing in Belfast in November 2007.  It is now publishing its findings and presenting its recommendations to ministers across the UK, including from the Northern Ireland Executive.  Earlier this month the Commission secured agreement from the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government to look at how some of the recommendations could be implemented in Scotland and Wales.

The Commission’s reports include a number of recommendations that are particularly pertinent to the asylum system in Northern Ireland. These include applying asylum policy in a sensitive and sensible manner, ensuring better access to information and services for asylum seekers, and providing alternatives to the current removal of asylum seekers to detention centres in Scotland and England prior to removal which the Commission views as unacceptable. 

Ifath Nawaz, President of the Association of Muslim Lawyers and co-chair of the Independent Asylum Commission speaking ahead of her visit to Belfast said:

“Our Commission has made many recommendations to improve the treatment of people who come to the UK seeking sanctuary.  The devolution of power to Wales and Scotland has seen the new governments there using devolution as an opportunity to show real political leadership in relation to asylum policy.  We would like to see a similar distinctive approach adopted by Ministers in Northern Ireland,”. 

The Commissioners are also expected to raise issues unique to Northern Ireland such as the consequences of border crossing to the Republic of Ireland and the closure of the local enquiry office.

Ifath Nawaz said:

“There are many reasons why asylum seekers may not immediately present their claim on entering a country and this is accepted by the Government and the courts - for example, in cases where there is evidence of trauma associated with torture or sexual violence.  Denying access to information and access to services by closing the only enquiry office on cost grounds, means that those seeking sanctuary are put into a much more vulnerable situation.”

Les Allamby, Director of the Northern Ireland Law Centre, said:

“We are delighted to host the launch of the report. The Northern Ireland Executive and MLAs have been broadly supportive of better treatment of asylum seekers. Nonetheless, more needs to be done. The IAC has rightly shone a light on a number of important issues including the need for local facilities for reception, the need to use detention sparingly, the importance of access to local information and advice and more emphasis on care and services than the current UK Border Agency’s concentration on detention and enforcement”.

CONTACT:

Jonathan Cox, Independent Asylum Commission Co-ordinator, 07919 484066, or Hratche Koundarjian, Managing Director, Principle, 07905 911 039, .