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UN welcomes new UK effort to improve asylum screening
LONDON, March 16 (UNHCR) – UK government caseworkers examining asylum claims are at the forefront of efforts to protect victims of persecution and war, the UN Refugee Agency said this week in a speech at the launch of the New Asylum Model, a UK Home Office scheme to improve the screening of asylum claims.
“As persons who make or contribute to this [refugee status] determination here in the UK, you are at the forefront of safeguarding the rights of refugees,” Bemma Donkoh, UNHCR Representative to the UK told senior caseworkers at the launch of the New Asylum Model.
The New Asylum Model aims to deliver many improvements to the UK’s asylum system. The new government scheme features a regionalisation of the processing of asylum claims as well as processing of cases by a single caseworker from the start of the process to its conclusion, be that through the integration of a recognised refugee or the removal of an unsuccessful asylum claimant.
The Home Office, the UK ministry responsible for processing asylum claims, believes that the new system which includes far closer and consistent contact between the asylum claimant and the responsible official handling the claim will mean better, and more speedy decisions.
UNHCR welcomes the commitment to producing higher quality asylum decisions and faster recognition of well-founded claims, Donkoh told the audience.
The audience of senior government officials attending the launch was also urged to focus on helping people in need of international protection.
“I see your role as not primarily about the enforcement of borders, nor about targets or the removal of illegal immigrants or keeping ‘recognition’ rates down,” Donkoh said. “Your role is about ensuring that those who are in the UK and who are in need of international protection, receive it.”
“That is also your performance indicator, to meet the obligations of the UK as a signatory to the Convention,” Donkoh said, as she advised caseworkers to ensure asylum claimants got the refugee protection they require.
“There will be some who do not warrant such status, but there will always be many who do,” she said.
UNHCR has been working with the Home Office since 2004 to improve initial decision making, through what is known as the Quality Initiative project. Several of UNHCR’s recommendations, including the need to raise recruitment standards for caseworkers and to provide more in-depth training and apply a system of accreditation, have been incorporated into the design of NAM’s new end-to-end process, giving UNHCR some encouragement.
“You are a vital part of the international human rights framework that is meant to protect people who flee for their lives,” Donkoh reminded the officials, meeting in London’s Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre for the launch.
“Just as the United Kingdom is bound to abide by the 1951 Refugee Convention, which you must enforce, including by rejecting unfounded claims, I see your job and those of your team members as protecting the lives of those who are forced to flee.”
For full text of speech click here.
Story date: 16 March 2007
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