Refugees and Asylum

Amnesty's goal is to bring about a fair and effective asylum system. We attempt to achieve that goal in a number of ways - carrying out research into aspects of asylum policy and practice, developing proposals for improving those policies and practices, and then promoting our proposals with the government, members of parliament and other influential audiences.

Background to this campaign

New film on destitution

Documentary maker Nick Broomfield has made a new short film for Amnesty International to highlight the issue of destitute refused asylum seekers in the UK. Amnesty is campaigning to end the scandal of destitution of refused asylum seekers. We are supporting the Still Human Still Here campaign along with other refugee, migrant and church organisations who are working on rights and welfare of asylum seekers in the UK.

To order a copy of the DVD, you can call 01788 545 553 and quote REF013

Iraqi refugee crisis

Amnesty International's new report Rhetoric and Reality: The Iraqi Refugee Crisis, highlights how the international community is evading its responsibility towards refugees from Iraq by promoting a false picture of the security situation when the country is neither safe nor suitable for return.

Many families are destitute and facing impossible choices and new risks, like having to resort to child labour and the prospect of being forced through circumstances to undertake "voluntary" return to Iraq.

• Read Amnesty's press release
• Read the report
• Take action for Iraq's diplaced people

Trauma continues for Palestinians fleeing Iraq

At least 729 Palestinian refugees who have fled Iraq are stranded in appalling conditions in al-Tanf camp in the no-man's land on the Iraq-Syria border. They have been targeted for human rights abuses since the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003. We are urging the UK Government to ensure that help is provided in resettling these refugees.

• Send an appeal now to the UK Government
• Read the report Al-Tanf Camp: Refugee camp trauma continues for Palestinians (PDF) 

Somalis denied refuge

Following a research mission to Kenya, Amnesty has published a report calling on the government of Kenya to immediately re-open its border and permit those fleeing conflict in Somalia to seek refuge.

Since Kenya decided to close its border with the its war-torn neighbour Somalia on 3 January 2007, thousands of Somali asylum-seekers and refugees have been left stranded. The decision has put asylum-seekers and refugees at risk of grave human rights violations.

• Read the report Kenya: Denied Refuge - The effect of the closure of the Kenya/Somalia border on thousands of Somali asylum-seekers and refugees
• Read a feature about the report on amnesty.org
• Watch a video testimony from Somali asylum seekers:

Video: The Removed

Watch a short film documenting the experiences of a family being taken into detention. The clip is produced by Camcorder Guerillas, a Glasgow-based collective of independent filmmakers.