The Refugee Experience

1
The Refugee Experience
2
Diverse people joined together by common needs
3
Refugees Coming

• 1914-18 - Belgian refugees
• 1920s - Russians and Armenian refugees
• 1930s-1940s - Jewish refugees
• 1940s-1950s - Eastern Europeans
• 1960s- 1980s - Vietnam, Chile, Ugandan Asians,
  Eastern Europe
• 1990s - Kosovo, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Sierra
  Leone, Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda
• 2000 - Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Eritrea,
  Zimbabwe, Middle East, China, Burma, Somalia,
  Congo

4
Definition of a refugee

• Refugee
• a person who is recognised by the government as
  having a fear of being persecuted in their
  country for reasons of
• Race
• Religion
• Nationality
• Membership of a particular group
• Political Opinion
• Different types of refugee status
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) only after 5
  years
• Limited Leave to Remain/Enter (5 or 3 years)
• Humanitarian Protection (HP) usually 3 years
• Discretionary Leave (DL) if case will breech
  Article 8 of European Convention on Human Rights
  (right to respect for private and family life) or
  he/she has a serious medical condition
• Unaccompanied Minor Discretionary Leave until age
  18
• Case Resolution
• Refugees can apply for British Citizenship after
  5 years

5
Asylum seeker

• Asylum Seeker someone who is waiting for the
  government to decide if they are regarded as a
  refugee
• (NB not all refugees have been AS Programme
  refugees come on Gateway programme)
• Limited rights in the UK
• Section 4 a failed asylum seeker who cannot be
  returned to their country of origin due to an
  exceptional circumstance such as serious illness,
  pregnancy or Home Office Policy on sending people
  back to a particular area

6
Refugees and Asylum seekers are not to be
confused with

• EU migrants
• Economic migrants
• Illegal Immigrants
• Evacuees (disaster relief)

7
Why people leave

• Persecution
• Oppressive political regimes
• Civil war
• Ethnic cleansing
• Religious intolerance
• Restriction of basic human rights
• Womens rights (threats of forced
  marriage/FGM/sex trade/domestic violence)
• Seeking safety

• Global trends
• 75 million living outside country of birth 1965
• 105 million 1985
• 120 million 1990
• 200 million 2010
• UN figures

8
WHERE DO MOST REFUGEES GO?
9
(No Transcript)
10
Why the UK ?

• Safe
• Signed the 1951 UN international convention
  relating to the status of refugees
• English language
• Historical colonial links
• Family connections
• Justice, respect human rights, democracy
• Many dont choose, they are brought here

11
HOW DO PEOPLE COME HERE?

• Resettled (programme) refugees from refugee camps
  coming in groups (750 per year to 4 UK cities)
• Asylum route (coming to UK as individuals or
  families)
• Approximately 20, 000 per year, dispersed all
  over UK
• This figure includes in country applicants
• UK is 36 in world ranking for countries hosting
  refugees

12
Asylum Process

• The Asylum Process in the UK (NAM 12 months for
  1st decision)
• Arrival in UK port of entry
• Statement of Evidence form (SEF)
• Housing and Support Subs only/no support
• (HO) asylum Interview
• Refused Accepted Refugee
  Status(3-5yrs)
• (28 days to leave NASS Support)
• Appeal in Court
  Time Limited (1-3yrs)
• 
  (ELR, HLR, ELE,
  DLR)
• Refused
• Tribunal Section 4 / case resolution
• (Judicial Review)
• (Refused - Destitute, Detained Deported or
  voluntary return)

13
Where are people coming from?

• Syria Civil War
• Iran Persecution of ethnic minorities and
  religious groups
• Somalia Civil war, ethnic persecution, no
  government
• Iraq Civil war
• Congo Civil war, Human rights violations
• Pakistan Religious oppression, violence and
  persecution, Taliban
• Afghanistan War, strong Taliban presence, human
  rights violations
• Eritrea War with Ethiopia, human rights
  violations
• Ethiopia War with Eritrea, human rights
  violations
• Zimbabwe Oppressive government and economy in
  ruins
• Burma Oppressive government, restriction of
  rights
• China Communist government, human rights
  violations

14
Asylum Seekers

• Not allowed to work (very few exceptions)
• Limitations on courses at college/ESOL (6 months)
• Limitations on movement (Home office monitoring)
• 31 - 40 per week in support (or vouchers if on
  Section 4)
• Poor quality housing/often shared/no choice
• Reporting/signing
• Free NHS healthcare (inc dental, optical)
• Many report feeling in limbo
• Some asylum seekers have been waiting over 10
  years

15
Asylum Registration card (ARC)
16
Destitution, Detention, Deportation

• Asylum seekers whose claims have failed (numerous
  reasons, including legal technicality)
• Some cannot be returned to unsafe countries
• 100s without any support or accommodation in
  Leeds
• 100s in detention centres across country
• Option of voluntary return
• Fear of forced return
• Many failed asylum seekers have no legal
  representation
• New asylum model these situations can develop
  quickly

17
Issues to be aware of when someone has recently
received refugee status

• Very disruptive time, emotional rollercoaster
• Time pressure(28 days to leave NASS and sort out
  benefits)
• Needs include
• Housing relocating (Housing shortage, cramped
  accommodation)
• Registering for benefits (Backdated income
  support backdated child benefit)
• Job hunting pressures from the Jobcentre
• Having to face the real world
• Family re-union (increasingly difficult)
• Changing situation education/courses may have
  to be delayed

18
Refugee status document
19
Latest changes

• COMPASS and new contracts
• Legal aid cuts (and threatened with further
  axing)
• Cuts to accessing funded ESOL courses
• New dispersal centres
• Voluntary sector cuts / ending of some refugee
  services
• Private sector undercutting voluntary sector for
  contracts
• Threat to free health care

20
City of SanctuaryBuilding a culture of
welcomePeople and communities from all walks of
life, united by a desire to bring welcome to our
culture

• THE PROMISE WE HAVE MADE
• We recognise the contribution of asylum-seekers,
• refugees and others seeking safety to our
  city/town,
• and we are committed to welcoming and including
  them
• in our activities.

21
STREAMS OF SANCTUARY

• Schools of Sanctuary
• Welcome project
• Sanctuary in Arts
• Maternity Stream of sanctuary
• Health Stream of Sanctuary
• Faith stream of Sanctuary
• University of Sanctuary
• Sanctuary in sport, gardening, knitting

22
What can we do?

• WELCOMING saying hello, Im glad youre here
• BEFRIENDING volunteering
• MEET AND TRAVEL TOGETHER accompanying people to
  Home Office and Court appointments
• IA Offering support at Initial Accommodation
  Centre
• DROP INS conversation classes, volunteering
• AWARENESS RAISING at your school, college,
  place of work, family and community gatherings
• CAMPAIGNING tell others write to your MP
• FUNDRAISING for refugee charities
• SHARING your skills, your knowledge, your
  language
• DONATING food, toiletries etc to destitution
  charities
• MENTORING refugees with your professional
  background (doctor, teacher etc)
• VOLUNTEERING find out about the local charities
  from City of Sanctuary
• INCLUDING refugees in your club, team or group
• TEACHING English at home, refugee childrens
  homework club, etc
• WHAT ELSE ???... There is room for YOU to bring
  YOUR skills and be creative
• To find out more, look at www.cityofsanctuary.org