Detention of Asylum Seekers
The detention of asylum seekers is a fairly widespread but opaque process. Little is known in the general public about detaining asylum seekers.
René Cassin, alongside many other groups, is concerned about the nature of detention. We are particularly concerned that the UK’s policy and practice of detention is an infringement to the human rights of many asylum seekers. Vulnerable individuals should not be locked up, and the indefinite nature of sentences is unacceptable.
We see the detention of asylum seekers as a human rights issue and are concerned that the detention of vulnerable people is in violation of both human rights standards and the inherent dignity of the individual.
The UK should be a place of sanctuary for those seeking asylum. We want a system where individuals fleeing horrific circumstances in their home country can come to the UK for protection. We want an asylum system with individuals’ human rights its primary concern
Our aims:
- End the expansion of the detention estate
- End the practice of detaining ‘vulnerable’ asylum seekers (including people with mental health problems, torture victims, and children)
- End the practice of indefinite detention, by imposing a maximum limit to the length of time an asylum seeker can be detained
Download Learn to Act: An Asylum Detention Activist Toolkit
Download Joint letter to Home Secretary
Recent campaign work includes:
- Writing a letter in coalition with 105 other NGOs to Home Secretary Theresa May on 9 May 2011 regarding recent changes to the immigration rules regarding women who are domestic violence victims seeking to stay in the UK.
- Publishing a Detention Toolkit for young activists that provides a plan for increased engagement in our campaign.
- Urging the Joint Committee on Human Rights to reopen the case on detention.
- Participating as a member of the Detention Forum in parliamentary meetings regarding immigration detention in the UK.
- Collaboratively organizing a photography exhibit for awareness about refugee-related issues in conjunction with a local photographer.
- Working in collaboration with the Bail Observation Project to hold an awareness and training event for immigration lawyers and judges who work on legal issues around asylum.
- Drafting a policy paper on asylum issues in UK.
- Tailoring our current Detention Toolkit to a broader audience, including lawyers and lawmakers with a roadmap to engage wider audiences in activism.
Contact info@renecassin.org to bring the campaign to your community!