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Gateway Protection Programme

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File:Home logo.gif
The logo of the UK Border Agency, which operates the Gateway Protection Programme

The Gateway Protection Programme is a scheme operated by the UK Border Agency in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), offering a legal route for a quota of UNHCR-identified refugees to settle in the United Kingdom. The programme was established in March 2004 with a quota of 500 refugees per year, later increased to 750, but the actual number of refugees resettled in each year has been fewer than the quota permitted. Liberian, Congolese, Sudanese, Burmese, Ethiopian, Mauritanian and Iraqi refugees have been resettled under the programme.

Programme details

The programme is the UK's "quota refugee" resettlement scheme.[1] Refugees designated as particularly vulnerable by the UNHCR are assessed for eligibility under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees by the Home Office. if they meet the eligibility criteria they are then brought to the UK and granted indefinite leave to remain.[1][2][3] The International Organization for Migration helps facilitate pre-departure medical screening, counselling, dossier preparation, transport and immediate arrival assistance.[4] Once in the UK, refugees are entered into a 12-month support programme which aims to aid their integration.[1] The programme involves local authorities and NGOs[1] including the British Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee, Migrant Helpline, Refugee Action, the Refugee Arrivals Project, the Refugee Council, Scottish Refugee Council and Refugee Support.[5][6] These organisations have formed the Resettlement Inter-Agency Partnership in order to pool their resources.[5]

The programme is distinct from and in addition to ordinary provisions for claiming asylum in the United Kingdom.[7]

History

Burmese refugees in a camp in Thailand

The Gateway Protection Programme is not the first British refugee resettlement programme. Other, informal, resettlement programmes include the Mandate Refugee Scheme, and UK also participates in the Ten or More Plan.[5] Refugees must have close ties to the UK to qualify for the former, which is for so-called "mandate" refugees who are granted refugee status by UNHCR.[8] The Ten or More Plan, established by UNHCR in 1973 and administered in the UK by the British Red Cross,[9][10] is for refugees requiring medical attention not available in their current location.[11] During the 1990s, 2,620 refugees were settled in the UK due to these two programmes.[12] In 2003, the UK's Ten or More Plan had a resettlement goal of 10 people and the Mandate Refugee Scheme 300.[13] Refugees have also been resettled through specific programmes following emergencies.[14] For example, 42,000 Ugandan Asians expelled from Uganda during 1972–74, 22,500 Vietnamese during 1979–92, over 2,500 Bosnians in the 1990s, and over 4,000 Kosovars in 1999.[5]

A new resettlement programme was proposed by the then British Home Secretary, David Blunkett in October 2001,[11] having been hinted at by the previous Home Secretary, Jack Straw, in his 'Lisbon Speech' to the European Conference on Asylum in June 2000.[8][15] The legal basis for the programme's funding was established by Section 59 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002,[1][11] which was passed by the House of Commons by 362 votes to 74 in June 2002[16] and by the House of Lords, at the ninth attempt (following concern about the introduction of measures allowing for the detention of asylum seekers in rural areas), in November 2002.[17][18]

The Gateway Protection Programme was subsequently established in March 2004.[19] Initially, the programme quota was set at 500 per year.[1] The British government has faced criticism from academics and practitioners over the small number of refugees it has resettled in comparison with other developed states.[20] For example, in 2001 the countries with the largest quota schemes were the United States (80,000 refugees), Canada (11,000) and Australia (10,000).[5][11] Initially, David Blunkett had intended to raise the quota to 1,000 in the second year of the programme's operation, but local councils' reluctance to participate in the scheme meant that it was slow to take off.[21][22][23] Their reluctance showed that hostile attitudes towards asylum in general had carried over to affect the most genuinely needy refugees.[21] The quota remained at 500 per year until the 2008/09 financial year, when it was increased to 750 refugees per year.[1] The number of refugees resettled under the scheme is small in comparison to the number of asylum seekers offered protection in the UK. For example, in 2007, an estimated 6,540 applications for asylum (out of the 23,430 applications made, excluding dependents) resulted in grants of asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave.[24] Worldwide, there were 42 million forcibly displaced people at the end of 2008, 15.2 million of whom were refugees.[25] Nonetheless, existence of the programme has maintained cross-party support in Parliament since its inception.[26]

Refugees resettled under the programme

Year Quota Refugees resettled[24]
2004 500 150
2005 500 50
2006 500 355
2007 500 485

The number of refugees resettled under the programme has been consistently under the quota.[24][27] Refugees resettled have included Liberians from Guinea and Sierra Leone, Congolese from Uganda and Zambia, Sudanese from Uganda, Burmese from Thailand, Ethiopians from Kenya, and Mauritanians from Senegal.[28] Provision was made for 1,000 Iraqi refugees to be resettled in the UK between 1 April 2008 and the end of March 2010. In 2008, 236 Iraqis were resettled and as of 18 May, a further 212 had been resettled in 2009.[29] However, in May 2009 the programme was shut down for those Iraqis resettling due to having worked in support of British occupying forces and therefore at risk for reprisals.[30] This decision was criticised as premature and "mean-spirited" by some members of Parliament.[30]

On 17 July 2009, three Congolese men resettled in Norwich under the programme were killed in a car crash on the A1 road.[31]

Resettlement locations

As of March 2009, out of the 434 local authorities in the UK,[32] 15 were participating in the programme.[33] The first refugees resettled under the programme were housed in Sheffield.[21] Others have been housed in cities and towns including Hull, Norwich, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Motherwell, Brighton and Hove, and the Manchester area including Tameside.[1][19][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]

In 2007, North Lanarkshire Council won the "Creating Integrated Communities" category in the UK Housing Awards for its involvement in the Gateway Protection Programme.[42][43] In April 2007, Bolton Museum held an exhibition of photos of Sudanese refugees resettled in the town under the programme.[44]

Programme evaluation

Resettlement has been presented as a means of the UK fulfilling its obligations towards displaced people in the content of hostile public attitudes towards asylum seekers.[20] Research has shown that members of the British public are generally well disposed to providing protection to genuine refugees, but are sceptical about the validity of asylum seekers' claims.[45] In February 2006, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department Andy Burnham, when asked about how the programme fitted in with community cohesion strategies, stated in the House of Commons that:

"The early evidence from areas in which authorities have participated in the programme shows that it has been successful in challenging some of the attacks on the notion of political asylum that we have heard in recent years. In Bolton and Sheffield in particular, the towns have rallied around the individuals who have come to them. The programme has been a positive experience for the receiving community and, of course, for the vulnerable individuals who have benefited from the protection that those towns have offered".[46]

A report into the experience of refugees resettled in Brighton and Hove under the scheme between October 2006 and October 2007 was published by the Sussex Centre for Migration Research at the University of Sussex in December 2007. The report found that the refugees had struggled to gain employment and English language skills.[47]

In February 2009, the Home Office published a report evaluating the effectiveness of the Gateway Protection Programme. The research it was based upon focused on refugees' integration into British society in the 18 months following their resettlement.[1] The research found that refugees showed signs of integration, including the formation of social bonds through community groups and places of worship. The report noted that low employment rates and slow progress with acquiring English language skills were particular concerns. Younger refugees and children had made the most progress.[1]

The Home Office released a promotional video in October 2009 that highlighted the success of the programme in resettling 15 Congolese families into Norwich in 2006.[26] That city has had a record of success with the programme, with new families being supported by ones previously resettled there.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Evans, Olga (February 2009). "The Gateway Protection Programme: An evaluation" (PDF). Home Office Research Report. 12. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Gateway Protection Programme: Good Practice Guide" (PDF). Refugee Council and Refugee Action. 2008. p. 8. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  3. ^ "Leave to remain". UK Border Agency. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  4. ^ "United Kingdom". International Organization for Migration. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Resettling to the UK: The Gateway Protection Programme". Refugee Council Briefing. Refugee Council. October 2004. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  6. ^ Rutter, Jill (October 2007). From Refugee to Citizen: 'Standing On My Own Two Feet' – A Research Rport on Integration, 'Britishness' and Citizenship (PDF). London: Refugee Support. p. 24. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Gateway Protection Programme". UK Border Agency. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  8. ^ a b Wright IV, George J. (June 2005). "Resettlement Programmes and the UK". Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees. Retrieved 2009-08-22. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ van Selm, Joanne (2003). "Public-private partnerships in refugee resettlement: Europe and the US". Journal of International Migration and Integration. 4 (2): 157–175. doi:10.1007/s12134-003-1031-1. ISSN 1488-3473.
  10. ^ Van Bueren, Geraldine (1998). The International Law on the Rights of the Child. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 363. ISBN 9041110917.
  11. ^ a b c d "Understanding Resettlement to the UK: A Guide to the Gateway Protection Programme". Refugee Council on behalf of the Resettlement Inter-Agency Partnership. June 2004. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  12. ^ "Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill 2002". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 2002-10-15. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  13. ^ van Selm, Joanne (2003-02-06). Lessons on resettlement from the US and Canada (PDF). Listening to the evidence: The future of UK resettlement. Victoria Park Plaza, London. p. 35. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  14. ^ Robinson, Vaughan (2003-02-06). An evidence base for future policy: Reviewing UK resettlement policy (PDF). Listening to the evidence: The future of UK resettlement. Victoria Park Plaza, London. pp. 3–18. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  15. ^ Straw, Jack (15–16 June 2000). Minister Jack Straw (PDF). Towards a Common European Asylum System: European Conference on Asylum. Lisbon. pp. 133–139. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  16. ^ "Yesterday in parliament". The Guardian. 2002-06-13. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  17. ^ "Yesterday in parliament". The Guardian. 2002-11-08. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  18. ^ "The House of Lords is perfectly right to attack Mr Blunkett's foolish law". The Independent. 2002-10-10. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  19. ^ a b Hynes, Patricia (2008). "To Sheffield with love" (PDF). Forced Migration Review. 30: 49–51. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ a b Cooley, Laurence. "Turned away? Towards better protection for refugees fleeing violent conflict". Public Policy Research. 14 (3): 176–180. doi:10.1111/j.1744-540X.2007.00485.x. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ a b c Travis, Alan (2004-10-04). "Blunkett refugee plan misfires". The Guardian. p. 6. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  22. ^ Travis, Alan (2005-05-17). "Burmese reach UK in refugee scheme". The Guardian. p. 9. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  23. ^ Taylor, Amy (2006-01-19). "Few councils take up UN scheme". Community Care. p. 8. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  24. ^ a b c "Asylum statistics United Kingdom 2007" (PDF). Home Office Statistical Bulletin. 11/08: 16, 87. 2008-08-21. Data rounded to nearest 5 people.
  25. ^ "2008 Global Trends: Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Returnees, Internally Displaced and Stateless Persons". UNHCR. 2009-06-16. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  26. ^ a b c "Norwich refugees star in YouTube film". The Advertiser. Norwich. 2009-10-14. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  27. ^ Sulaiman, Tosin (2006-06-20). "Seeking refuge for war victims". The Times. p. 5 (Public Agenda supplement). Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  28. ^ Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2008). Human Rights Annual Report 2007. Norwich: The Stationery Office. p. 95. ISBN 0101734026.
  29. ^ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090602/text/90602w0019.htm. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 2009-06-02. col. 358W. {{cite book}}: |chapter-url= missing title (help).
  30. ^ a b "Iraq aides plan 'echoes Gurkha row'". The Guardian. Press Association. 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  31. ^ Gray, Tracey (2009-07-28). "Norwich men killed in A1 tragedy". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  32. ^ "2006 Carbon Dioxide emissions at Local Authority and Government Office Region level". Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  33. ^ Moving On Together: Government's Recommitment to Supporting Refugees. London: UK Border Agency. March 2009. ISBN 9781847268655. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  34. ^ Wood, Alexandra (2006-03-27). "Refugees find haven from terror". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  35. ^ Osuh, Chris (2006-01-17). "Peter Lemi dreams of the day when he and his family no longer live in fear". Manchester Evening News. p. 29. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  36. ^ Seith, Emma (2008-10-03). "Refugees now talking with Scottish accents". The Times Educational Supplement. p. 4. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  37. ^ "'New life' for Congolese family". BBC News. 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  38. ^ Money, Rachele (2009-01-14). "Congolese welcomed with taste of Africa...and Tunnock's teacakes". Sunday Herald. p. 25. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  39. ^ "Refugees and asylum seekers in Brighton & Hove". Brighton & Hove City Council. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  40. ^ "Ethiopians Lap Up Lakeland Visit". North-West Evening Mail. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  41. ^ Lashley, Brian (2008-12-24). "Refugee's Christmas reunion". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  42. ^ "North Lanarkshire Council: Gateway Protection Programme" (PDF). UK Housing Awards. 2007. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  43. ^ "High praise for refugee housing programme". Evening Times. 2007-11-27. p. 22. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  44. ^ "Museum photo exhibition tells the powerful stories of refugees in Bolton". Refugee Action. 2007-04-07. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  45. ^ Lewis, Miranda (2005). Asylum: Understanding Public Attitudes. London: Institute for Public Policy Research. ISBN 1860302734.
  46. ^ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060213/debtext/60213-06.htm. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 2006-02-13. col. 1136. {{cite book}}: |chapter-url= missing title (help).
  47. ^ Collyer, Michael (December 2007). "'On that day I am born...': The experience of refugees resettled to Brighton and Hove under the Gateway Protection Programme October 2006 to October 2007" (PDF). Sussex Centre for Migration Research, University of Sussex. Retrieved 2009-08-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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