Refugees & Asylum Refugees & Asylum Seekers in the UK 1Seekers in the UK 1What do you know about this topic?What do you know about this topic?

What % of the world’s asylum seekers come to What % of the world’s asylum seekers come to the UK?the UK?

In 2007 there were 77 000 from 11 390 600 In 2007 there were 77 000 from 11 390 600

refugees world wide. refugees world wide. That’s roughly 0.7 That’s roughly 0.7 per 1000 people. per 1000 people. Only a minority of these Only a minority of these will be allowed to stay permanently.will be allowed to stay permanently.

Where are the refugees?Where are the refugees?

ObjectivesObjectives

To understand key terms and facts about To understand key terms and facts about refugees and asylumrefugees and asylum

To develop and understand different To develop and understand different viewpoints about refugees.viewpoints about refugees.

Key TermsKey TermsA Refugee - is a person with a well founded A Refugee - is a person with a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of; race, fear of being persecuted for reasons of; race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion who is outside social group or political opinion who is outside the country of their nationality, and is unable to the country of their nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of that country.him/herself of the protection of that country.(1951 UN Convention on Refugees) (1951 UN Convention on Refugees)

Since 1967 it also includes people who have Since 1967 it also includes people who have fled fled war or other or other violence in their home country. in their home country.

Asylum Seeker – A person attempting to Asylum Seeker – A person attempting to gain entry to a country by claiming refugee gain entry to a country by claiming refugee status. This means that their life would be status. This means that their life would be endangered if they remain in their own endangered if they remain in their own country.country.

NB many asylum seekers are desperate NB many asylum seekers are desperate economic migrants who cannot meet the economic migrants who cannot meet the migration criteria of the UKmigration criteria of the UK

Immigrant PathwaysImmigrant PathwaysIf an asylum seeker is If an asylum seeker is granted leave to stay granted leave to stay they become they become a a refugeerefugee and are given a and are given a visavisa. If that visa is made . If that visa is made permanent they can apply for UK citizenship.permanent they can apply for UK citizenship.

If they are If they are refused leave refused leave to stay they are to stay they are repatriatedrepatriated. If . If an asylum seeker who is refused leave ‘disappears’ they an asylum seeker who is refused leave ‘disappears’ they become an become an illegal immigrant illegal immigrant and if discovered they will and if discovered they will be deportedbe deported..

A refugee whose A refugee whose visa has expired visa has expired will be will be repatriatedrepatriated, if , if they ‘disappear’ they also become an illegal immigrant. If they ‘disappear’ they also become an illegal immigrant. If discovered they too will be deported. discovered they too will be deported.

RepatriationRepatriation

The returning home of failed asylum The returning home of failed asylum seekers to their home country.seekers to their home country.

Read the article on Zimbabwe and Read the article on Zimbabwe and annotate issues that arise.annotate issues that arise.

Watch the video on Iraq and make notesWatch the video on Iraq and make notes

Stigma of refugees and asylum Stigma of refugees and asylum seekers...seekers...

What views do people hold about refugees and What views do people hold about refugees and asylum seekers. Look in BBC news forums asylum seekers. Look in BBC news forums type in ‘asylum seekers’ and search!type in ‘asylum seekers’ and search!

Create a spider diagram on why there is a Create a spider diagram on why there is a negative stigma about refugees and asylum negative stigma about refugees and asylum seekersseekers

PlenaryPlenary

Look at the spectrum sheet. Where do you stand?Look at the spectrum sheet. Where do you stand?

Homework:What is your view of refugees and Homework:What is your view of refugees and asylum seekers?asylum seekers? http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/ www.refugeecouncil.org.uk www.migrationwatch.org www.ercomer.org www.worldrefugee.com www.statistics.gov.uk