A new U.K. Government: what we'll be calling for
Our priority calls are below:
Freedom from Torture calls on the new government to:
- Protect the Human Rights Act - as it provides vital protection for the rights of torture survivors as well as many other vulnerable groups in the U.K.
- Ensure the Home Office 'gets it right first time' when deciding torture survivors' asylum claims, including by pushing for mandatory training of caseworkers on how to use medical evidence - as many torture survivors are wrongly refused at the first decision and forced into distressing and protracted appeals that impede their recovery - for more info read Body of Evidence: Treatment of Medico-Legal Reports for Survivors of Torture in the UK Asylum Tribunal
- Ensure the Home Office complies with policies against detention of torture survivors - as they are often detained under immigration powers contrary to official guidance and this adds to the trauma they have already experienced from torture
- Support a judicial inquiry into allegations of UK complicity in torture during the 'War on Terror' - as the U.K. is required by international law to deliver truth and accountability for torture
Freedom from Torture and the Survivors Speak OUT network will move swiftly to present a series of detailed policy calls to the new government after the election. For further information on the party manifestos and the thinking on our policy calls read this article by our Policy and Advocacy Director Sonya Sceats @sonya sceats
