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fear of certain groups in society to win votes. They
have done so by entering into a bidding war to see
who can propose the most stringent measures to
“control” immigration and by portraying asylum
seekers as potential “terrorists.” Home Office Immigration
Minister Des Brown stated in 2004 that even
though year on year statistics demonstrate a continuing
and dramatic decline in asylum claims, there
was no room for complacency and there would
be no let up in the Government’s drive to reduce
unfounded asylum claims and increase removals of
those whose claims have failed. 21 This suggests an
1.1 Research Objectives
official intention to further reduce the number of
asylum seekers irrespective of their need for international
protection.
The primary objectives of this piece of research
were to establish:
In the current political climate, there is likely to
be reluctance on the part of government to proposed
1. Whether the asylum determination process oper-
improvements in any part of the asylum determina-
ating in the United Kingdom assisted or hindered
tion process, even for unaccompanied or separated
unaccompanied or separated children trying to
children. Government officials are likely to argue
obtain the international protection they are entitled
that any such change will attract even more “bogus”
to under the 1951 UN Convention relating to the
asylum seekers claiming to be children. A number
Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol;
of people interviewed for the research believe that
because of the prevailing culture of disbelief within
2. Whether the process complied with domestic
the Home Office any attempt to devise better pro-
best practice and regional and international human
SEEKING ASYLUM ALONE | UNITED KINGDOM
14
cedures for children will result in them being placed
under even greater scrutiny. However, we conclude
that this is not a sufficient reason to desist from a
reformist agenda. Moreover, as a result of the current
hostility within government, many professionals
have become active advocates for unaccompanied
and separated children, having recognized the discrimination
that they face. Traditional children’s
charities and non-governmental organizations have
established programmes to address the unmet needs
of unaccompanied or separated children. So, though
the overall political climate is not auspicious, the very
virulence of the debate has opened up the space for
a vigorous debate on the needs and rights of unaccompanied
or separated children.
rights standards;
3. If the determination process did hinder unaccompanied
or separated children from obtaining
protection, how far international law norms were
being breached and what had caused those breaches;
4. Whether there were changes to domestic legislation,
policy, or practice which would ensure that
international law was complied with; and
5. If unaccompanied or separated children had been
assisted in obtaining protection, which policies and
procedures had been instrumental in ensuring that
they were protected.
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