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20th January 2003
UNHCR
calls for Government re-think on Zimbabwe visas
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has called
upon the UK Government to review its decision to impose visa requirements
on Zimbabwean nationals announced in November. In a letter to Home
Secretary David Blunkett, UNHCR expresses its concern that the need
to gain a visa will prevent many people who are under real threat
of persecution from seeking asylum in the UK.
UNHCR believes that the increasingly
difficult human rights situation in Zimbabwe is causing a significant
increase in the numbers under threat of persecution and seeking
asylum. This is illustrated by the Home Office’s own figures.
For the three months of July – September 2002, a total of
2,105 Zimbabweans sought asylum in the United Kingdom, almost as
many as in the whole of 2001 (2,115).
UNHCR is concerned that the situation
in Zimbabwe continues to feature frequent and serious human rights
violations, often amounting to persecution. Various country information
sources, not least the Home Office Country Assessment report of
October 2002, confirm that following the elections in March 2002,
a climate of fear, violence and intimidation has persisted. There
continues to be credible reports of serious violations of human
rights perpetrated against opposition groups, journalists and others.
Anne Dawson-Shepherd,
UNHCR Representative in the UK said:
“I have
raised UNHCR’s grave concerns regarding the Home Office’s
decision to impose visa restrictions on Zimbabwean nationals travelling
to the UK. UNHCR is asking the Home Secretary to review this decision.
In the event that a visa regime is maintained, UNHCR would like
clear undertakings as to how the rights of Zimbabwean refugees to
claim and enjoy international protection in the UK will be safeguarded.”
Given the situation in Zimbabwe, UNHCR
is concerned that:
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A visa regime will interfere with the ability of Zimbabweans
at risk of persecution to gain access to safety and obtain asylum
in the UK.
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There are some who, discouraged by the visa regime from seeking
safety outside Zimbabwe, will be compelled to remain to face
persecution.
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For refugees whose circumstances draw them to seek protection
in the UK, a visa regime will drive them to rely on human smugglers
and traffickers with all the potential dangers that this entails.
Ends
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