29th
October 2001
UNHCR
Response to Government Asylum Proposals
In this year of the 50th anniversary
of the UN Refugee Convention, the UNHCR welcomes the clear commitment
made by the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, to the UN Convention
on Refugee Status.
We also welcome a number of initiatives
announced as part of the government's package to change the system
for the reception and care of asylum seekers. We applaud the following
decisions:
- To stop detaining asylum seekers in prisons
- To phase out the voucher system
- To accept refugees from abroad under a resettlement
programme
As these measures are developed, the
UNHCR stands ready to work with the government in ensuring that
implementation complies with international standards for the protection
of refugees and asylum seekers.
Ends
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