A coalition of leaders of more than 120 charities and organisations supporting refugees have written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman pleading with her to overhaul the asylum system.
They want the cabinet minister to create a system of support for asylum seekers that is “effective, compassionate and protects the most vulnerable members of society”.
Among charity chief executives to call for reform of the asylum system is the Refugee Council’s Enver Solomon, Refugee Action’s Tim Naor Hilton, IMIX UK’s Jenni Regan and Save the Children’s Gwen Hines.
“You have referred to this country’s proud history of offering sanctuary,” states their letter to the Home Secretary, which has been coordinated by Refugee Together and IMIX UK.
“So, we ask you to make this happen with a fair, kind and effective system for refugees. Deal with the backlog in asylum cases, create safe routes, respect international law, and the UN Convention on Refugees, and give refugees a fair hearing, however they get here.”
We coordinated an open letter with @RefugeeTogether urgently calling for change, signed by 110+ orgs.
— IMIX 🧡 (@IMIX_UK) October 31, 2022
We can have a fair, effective and compassionate asylum system.@E_N_O @chooselove @refugeecouncil @RefugeeAction @scotrefcouncil @FreefromTorture https://t.co/kss9PeVs31
Their letter adds: “In your role, you hold the lives of many people in your hands. Iranian women pursued by police because they dared to share an opinion. Afghan activists who risked everything to work with our government. Teenagers fleeing brutal military dictatorships because they do not want to fire on their fellow citizens.
“Girls who were forced into being used as sex slaves. Parents who escaped war zones with their children in their arms.
“For many years, the Home Office’s bureaucratic backlog and failure to plan has let these people down. Now, you have the power to change things.
The letter has been published as it emerged that measures to alleviate overcrowding and improve conditions at the Manston migrant centre, in Kent, had not been taken under Braverman’s tenure as Home Secretary.
Braverman is alleged to have not sanctioned the use of hotel rooms to ease overcrowding pressures at the centre during her first stint as Home Secretary, before resigning and being replaced by Grant Shapps.
She was reinstated into the role when Rishi Sunak replaced Liz Truss as PM last week.
Braverman denies the allegations saying in the House of Commons this week that "on no occasion did I block hotels or veto advice to procure extra and emergency accommodation".
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