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From: Regional Asylum Activism <yandh@regionalasylumactivism.org>
Date: 17 August 2015 12:15:54 BST
To: Fiona Venner <Fiona.Venner@lslcs.org.uk>
Subject: Take Action Today! Standing up for the rights of refugee children
Reply-To: Regional Asylum Activism <yandh@regionalasylumactivism.org>
Take Action Today! Standing up for the rights of refugee children
Protect the Rights of Refugee Children
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Protect the Rights of Refugee Children
Urgent Action
August 2015
Today, we're writing to urge all our friends to take action to protect the dignity of refugee children and their families. We know you are already doing so much to raise awareness, campaign and provide practical support so we've kept it simple with 3 key actions you can take.
So what's happening and why is this urgent? On 10th August 2015, the Home Office introduce a new flat rate of asylum support for all people seeking asylum of £36.95 per week, regardless of age. This is a devastating blow for families. The change has resulted in a cut to support to children seeking refugee protection of £16 per week and will push vulnerable people further into poverty.
On top of this, the government is now consulting on plans to cut off support for refused asylum seeking families, a measure that will leave vulnerable families totally without any means of support, with no money for food and no accommodation.
Currently 51% of the world's refugees are under 18. These children have been born into situations we can hardly imagine; the early years of their lives destroyed by war, torture and persecution and their lives in the UK often overshadowed by uncertainty and anxiety about the future. We are concerned that these new measures will force children and vulnerable adults who have sought safety in the UK further into poverty and utter destitution, breaking our commitment to welcoming refugees and safeguarding children.
We all want to live in a society that treats those who've fled war, torture and persecution with dignity and respect. It's time to stand up for the rights of refugee children and make our voices heard!
There are three urgent actions you can take outlined below. Click on the one that you're most interested in, and we'll help you get started.
As ever, get in touch if you need any further information.
Thank you,
Regional Asylum Activism x
2. Respond to the Consultation! Make sure the Home Office know what you think of these plans by submitting a response. Click here to get started!
3. Talk to the Media! Get out there and explain what a devastating blow these proposals are for vulnerable families. Get in touch to find out how!
Further info on Cuts to Asylum Support
The reduction in asylum support rates has been introduced despite strong evidence proving that parents living on asylum support struggle to meet their own essential living needs, let alone those of their children. Findings from an All-Party Inquiry into Asylum Support for Children and Young People in 2012 stated:
"Based on the evidence provided by child poverty, health and well-being experts, social workers, local authorities and families themselves, the inquiry has concluded that the current levels of support provided to families are too low to meet the children's essential living needs."
When asylum support rates were first introduced, they were set at the equivalent of 70% of income support rates. With the current changes, a couple with a child living on asylum support will now be forced to live on just under £111 per week, 40% less than a comparative family living on income support.
To date, 43 MPs, 9 City Councils, and over 320 civil society organisations are asking the government to ensure that people seeking refugee protection are afforded sufficient financial support set at 70% of income support so that they can truly meet their essential living needs.
Barely a week after these regulations were announced, parliamentarians have tabled two Early Day Motions calling for the regulations to be withdrawn, and both the Scottish National Party and the Green Party have submitted written questions to the Home Office querying their decision to cut asylum support for children.
Further info on the Consultation on Withdrawing Support for Refused Asylum Seeking Families
On 4th August 2015, the Home Office launched a consultation on plans to cut off support for refused asylum seeking families, a measure that will leave vulnerable families totally without any means of support, with no money for food and no accommodation.
We are concerned that these new measures will force children and vulnerable adults who have sought safety in the UK further into poverty and utter destitution. This isn't the first time withdrawing support to families has been tried. In fact, following a pilot in Yorkshire and Humber, the North West and london back in 2005, Local Authoriteis said they believed the measures were "wholly incompatible with the Children Act 1989" and risked breaching their duties under the Human Rights Act 1998.
Find out more:
Asylum Seekers with Children to See Support Rates Cut, 16th July 2015
The Children's Society briefing on flat-rate support, 16th July 2015
All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Asylum Support for Children and Young People, 2012-13
Copyright © 2015 Regional Asylum Activism, All rights reserved.
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Want to find out more? Check out our new website at:
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Or, contact your regional co-ordinator Lorna Gledhill on yandh@regionalasylumactivism.org or 07557 982 498
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