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Citizens Speak:public consultation on sanctuary in the UK

Mike Dobson | 29.01.2008 10:16 | Anti-racism | Migration | Repression

CITIZENS SPEAK has been launched by the Independent Asylum Commission to make sure that ordinary citizens get a say in the biggest independent public consultation on sanctuary in the UK in recent times.



Sanctuary for those who come to the UK asking for protection is one of the most contentious issues in contemporary politics. The Independent Asylum Commission is conducting a citizens’ enquiry into the UK asylum system. Our aim is simple: an asylum system that treats those who come to the UK and seek sanctuary from persecution humanely, but also commands the confidence of the British people.

The Commissioners want to know your views on this controversial subject. There will be CITIZENS SPEAK events in every region of the UK and anyone can respond to the consultation online, watch video shorts on our partner site, friction.tv, or write

The big question to begin with is: how should we treat people who come to the UK and claim sanctuary from persecution?

It's time for ordinary people to have a say on sanctuary in the UK - so make sure you have yours!



Email your views to  citizensspeak@cof.org.uk

or mail them to:
CITIZENS SPEAK,
Independent Asylum Commission,
112 Cavell St, London E1 2JA

 http://www.citizensspeak.org.uk/

Mike Dobson

Comments

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Problematic

29.01.2008 20:24

I can see a potential problem with this kind of open forum, which is, it's going to attract a flood of comments from the kind of people who take their cue from the (subtle and not-so-subtle) racist commentary on asylum seekers you get in the press.
It's also a partly redundant question. Britain has a legal obligation to accept asylum claims under the UN Convention on Refugees, to which this nation is a signatory. How it conducts hearings and appeals is governed by the Human Rights Act. Britain has an obligation to treat asylum seekers and refugees according to both domestic and international law. A better question would be to examine whether it is meeting its legal obligations.
I'd like to see a link on this site, too, to the Westminster Hall debate on asylum seekers of 18th December last year (it's on the House of Commons website.) I don't think any of the press reported any of this information on the treatment of asylum seekers, except maybe The Independent.

Spartaca