Call for safe routes and ‘dignified asylum system fit for the twenty-first century’

In response to the Prime Minister's discussion of immigration with EU leaders, Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International’s Chief Executive, said:

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to human rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. This marks a real change and provides an important base to work from.

“However, the focus on ‘border security’ and ‘smashing the gangs’ risks treading a very similar path to the last Government. We need a serious effort to rise to the challenge of delivering a fair, functioning and dignified asylum system fit for the twenty-first century.

“It would be enormously refreshing for the new Government to acknowledge that some people must and will make dangerous journeys to escape persecution and conflict, and that the UK will play its part in helping and respecting the rights of these people.

“The Government should prioritise Europe-wide schemes that will facilitate genuinely safe travel arrangements for people seeking asylum.

“Safe routes as part of a reformed asylum system could actually mean that the UK clearly takes its international refugee responsibilities seriously, something it frankly hasn’t done for many years.”