It hardly seems a year since I wrote an article for last year’s June magazine on Refugee Week. I referred then to the finding of the Independent Asylum Commission that the treatment of asylum seekers by the UK falls seriously below the standards to be expected of a humane and civilised society. The flow of news and reports concerning refugees seems to have continued unabated – three countries which have been in the news this year, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe and, as I write, Sri Lanka, are evidence enough that refugees and asylum seekers continue to need help and support – so it behoves us to reflect again on the reception and treatment received by those who come to this country.
The Medical Foundation for the care of victims of torture is one of the charities currently supported by this church. Such victims may be so traumatised by their experience that long treatment by an expert psychotherapist is needed. In a recent appeal letter the Foundation report that the Government’s dispersal policy means that torture survivors, including unaccompanied children, are accommodated throughout the UK in areas where they may struggle to access the specialist support which they need. There are parts of the UK where traumatised survivors lack the expert insight and experience unique to the Medical Foundation and struggle to cope without support. Without the help of the Foundation, not only do they face a higher risk of self-harm, breakdown or even suicide, but also they are more likely to be inadequately housed, returned to the countries they fled where they may face further torture, or to slip into isolation and despair.
As an example both of the long help needed and of the often unbelieving attitude of the authorities, the Foundation refer to the case of a woman asylum seeker from Sri Lanka. She had been repeatedly raped, left naked in a cell, beaten and stamped on. She collapsed from stress during the hearing of her claim for asylum and her solicitor was rebuked for going to her aid. Her claim was refused, but after a long and difficult series of appeals that left her suicidal she was finally granted legal status in the UK.
Destitution continues to be a major cause of concern. This results from the Government’s policy of removing all support from asylum seekers if their claim is rejected, in order to put pressure on them to return to the country from which they fled. This still applies even when, as is frequently the case, such return is impossible and also when the initial decision is under appeal. Statistics show that 25% of appeals are successful, a high enough proportion to reflect adversely on the quality of initial decision making. Further, it can take years for appeals to be heard, with the appellants deprived of any livelihood while they wait.
This destitution led to the establishment of the ecumenical London Churches Refugee Fund, which this church also supports, to raise funds and support initiatives to relieve this hardship. The LCRF has provided us with a number of leaflets about their aims. These give a case example of an asylum seeker who claimed asylum in 2002, had her claim rejected in 2006, after which all support was stopped, and is still waiting for her appeal to be heard. These leaflets have been placed at the back of the church for people to read. Please take one away if you wish.
Another cause for concern which has been in the news this year is the detention of children seeking asylum. This is reflected in newsletters from the Refugee Council and in their latest publication of “Update”. A report from the charity Refugee and Migrant Justice has argued that government guidelines on the treatment of child refugees are regularly ignored and “The Guardian” has investigated how children in immigration detention centres lack access to proper education. A recent report from the Children’s Commissioner for England, Sir Al Aynsley-Green, calls for an end to child detention and for better conditions and improved healthcare. “The UK should not be detaining any child who has had an unsuccessful asylum claim. Not only is there no reason to continue the administrative detention of children, we present evidence in this report to demonstrate that it may be harmful to their health and wellbeing.”
The Church has not been oblivious to refugees and asylum seekers. Earlier this year the General Synod voted by 242 to 1 to support the call to let people seeking asylum work. It also said that a solution was needed for those who are refused asylum but cannot return to their home countries, and that children and families should not be detained.
Refugee Week gives us a renewed opportunity to consider how Christians should respond to those who have to flee their home countries and seek asylum. To help us, we shall have a visiting preacher on Sunday, 14th June. The Revd. Susie Snyder was an undergraduate at Cambridge with Fr. Jim and served her title at St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington. She has recently completed a doctorate on Theology of Migration and spoke at the recent conference “Migration, Asylum, Refugees and the Challenge to the Churches” hosted by the Las Casas Institute in Oxford.
Refugee Week 15th-21st June.
John Willmer