Update : The Bill passed it’s second reading in parliament on 16th March ’18. It is now in the Committee stage.
City of Sanctuary is asking supporters to urge their MP to support the #FamiliesTogether campaign and vote for the Refugee Family Reunion Bill on 16th March in the House of Commons. (see here)
The Refugee Council, British Red Cross, Amnesty International , UNHCR UK, STAR, Oxfam and others are campaigning to change the UK’s restrictive rules on refugee family reunion. Currently, child refugees in UK, have no right to bring their parents or any family members to the UK, leaving them isolated, traumatised and alone in the UK, knowing that the people they love still face untold dangers in other countries.
Family reunion for adult refugees is limited to their partner and children under the age of 18
There is also no legal aid funding available for lawyers to assist people in making the often complex applications.
On Friday 16 March, a private members bill will have its second reading.Please get in touch with your MP and ask them to attend the Second Reading of the Bill .
The Bill calls for:
- Child refugees in the UK having the right to sponsor their close family so they can rebuild their lives together and help them integrate in their new community
- An expansion of who qualifies as family so that young people who have turned 18 and elderly parents can live in safety with their families in the UK
- The reintroduction of legal aid so refugees who have lost everything have the support they need to afford and navigate the complicated process of being reunited with their families
https://action.refugeecouncil.org.uk/savethedate/
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/uk-stop-keeping-families-apart
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/refugee-family-reunion-bill.
https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/refugeesfamilyreunionno2.html
