Irish NGO report says asylum seeker accommodation leads to child poverty & social exclusion; new UK report on children & asylum process.

On 18 September, the Irish Refugee Council report, State sanctioned child poverty and exclusion: the case of children in accommodation for asylum-seekers was launched. Click here to access the report.
 
The report reviews the provision of direct accommodation to asylum seekers in Ireland over the last decade. It looks at the impact of the system on children, highlighting concerns over safety, overcrowding, social exclusion, barriers to accessing education, malnutrition as well as protection concerns.
 
The report’s main findings were:
 
  • One third of the 5,098 asylum seekers in direct provision are children.
  • The weekly €19.10 allowance per family per week and €9.60 for each child has resulted in “significant material deprivation”.
  • Asylum seekers and their families are often subject to severe levels of overcrowding in direct provision. There is real risk of child abuse, particularly where single families were required to share with strangers.
  • Family rationing has resulted in hunger amongst families and weight loss and malnutrition amongst children.
  • Applicants typically spend up to 4 years or more in direct provision,despite the fact that the system was set up in 2000 with the intention of housing applicants for a maximum of six months.
  • Children in direct provision have difficulty accessing mainstream youth services due to financial barriers and a lack of transport.
  • Children in direct provision are disadvantaged in the education system due to a lack of homework space, transport issues and problems financing workbooks.
The report calls for a review of direct provision in line with previous Fine Gael and Labour commitments and recommends bringing the care of children in direct provision in line with the Children First Guidelines. Click here to read these guidelines.
 
Judge Catherine McGuinness welcomed the report and said it demonstrates the failure of the state to vindicate children’s rights. She commented that the recommendations were “pragmatic and achievable”.
 
Click here to read an Irish Times article on the report.
 
Click here to read an Irish Refugee Council press release.
  
Meanwhile in the UK, a report by the Children’s Society found that children seeking asylum in the UK find the process “traumatic and upsetting”. The report said that many struggled to understand the process and were met by a “culture of disbelief and suspicion” among immigration staff dealing with their claims.
 
The report noted that the only guidance information for minor asylum seekers was six years old and out of date, and called for better information to be provided about the process.
 
The report’s recommendations include establishing an independent complaints and feedback system, and providing each applicant with a legal advocate.
 
A UK Border Agency spokesperson was reported as saying that work is already underway in many of the areas highlighted by the report and they will consider the report carefully.
 
Click here to read the report.
 
Click here to read a BBC News article on the Children’s Society report. 
 
In other news relating to minor asylum seekers, a new report from the European Commission says that the EU must do more to protect unaccompanied asylum seekers. Click here to read report.
 
Click here to see EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström’s presentation on the report.

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