On 1st April 2021 The Refugee Council commented on The UK report that is part of
the Asylum Information Database, a project coordinated by the European Council on Refugees and
Exiles which aims to provide up to date information on asylum practice in 23 countries.
It gives a comprehensive overview of the asylum procedure, drawing together relevant facts
and figures relating to refugees and people seeking asylum in this country. Despite the disproportionate attention on the mode of arrival of people seeking asylum to the UK the statistics show that overall, applications fell during 2020. You can read more from the
Refugee Council here.
'Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries freedom from persecution', says Article 14 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. There is no such thing as an illegal asylum-seeker: only asylum seekers lacking legal routes to safety. But how CAN you get safely and legally to other countries? Well, if you are British, your passport gives you visa-free access on arrival to 132 countries, and nearly all others will grant you a visa on application. The same is not true if you are Afghani, Iraqi, Iranian, or Syrian.
In response to the "New Plan for Immigration" set out by the Home Office, Liberal Democrats Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said:
"Priti Patel's proposals aren't just cruel, they undermine the UK's commitments under the Refugee Convention. Breaking international law is becoming a nasty habit for this Conservative Government.
