Scottish Refugee Council: Swedish Model Should Be Followed

Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) has called for the replacement of the current system of deporting failed asylum seekers with the Swedish model which is based on information, support and voluntary repatriation.

Speaking at the Independent Asylum Commission in Glasgow yesterday, Sally Daghlian chief executive of SRC said “We accept that governments have the right to remove people in some cases, but current removal practices are not working.

“We believe that when returns are effected they should be safe, dignified, sustainable and respect people’s human rights. We firmly believe that, as is the case in many other countries, it is possible to remove families without the use of force or detention.”

The Swedish model championed by SRC provides each asylum seeker with a case worker who informs them of their legal rights, counselling support for repatriation and advice prior to removal. Despite rejecting approximately 80% of asylum applicants, forcible removals in Sweden are rare.

The Independent Asylum Commission is a series of public hearings across the UK to allow for mass participation in the review of the UK’s asylum system. The current system of “dawn raids” was criticised by Unison who attended the hearing as well.  

Unison’s Kate Ramsden condemned the raids as a breach of the rights of children laid down by the Children (Scotland) Act. She said: “We have heard of situations where children have been awakened from their beds; where children have witnessed their parents being removed in handcuffs; and where very young children have been separated from their parents during the removals process, creating great distress to the child and the parent.”

Positive Action in Housing are organising a sleepout in Glasgow City Centre on Thursday 21 June 2007 to highlight the “deliberate destitution used to drive people out of the country”.