In recent years, governments have wanted you to think there isn’t an alternative to cruel anti-refugee policies. But time and time again, we’ve shown there is.
No one should experience torture. People who have survived unimaginable horrors and come to the UK for safety deserve compassion and support to recover. They need to heal, to feel safe and strong again, and be able to rebuild their lives.
Rooted in the expertise of torture survivors – people who have lived at the sharp end of government policies – we’ve created a six-point plan for a fairer and more compassionate asylum system.
This manifesto is a call to all political parties.
For too long, politicians of all stripes have used a language of fear in reference to people seeking safety. This has to stop. A large majority of the public think the UK should welcome refugees. It’s time to stand up for fairness and compassion.
Hostile policies don’t stop people seeking safety – but they do ruin lives. It’s time to focus on offering people seeking safety a welcome we can all be proud of.
Wherever you are from, however you get here, we all deserve safety.
Indefinite detention, inappropriate accommodation, invasive & inaccurate age assessments and a lack of support for people who’ve survived unimaginable horrors are destroying people’s lives. Instead of an asylum system that punishes and re-traumatises people seeking safety, it’s time for one grounded in dignity and compassion.
Watch our 'Hospitable environment' video from Young Outspoken Survivors
From the moment that people seeking safety arrive in the UK, they should be treated like future citizens of this country and given access to education. Policies like a quick and affordable route to citizenship and the right to work make it easier for people to recover and rebuild their lives.
Policies that promote a fair and compassionate asylum system must recognise the lived experiences of people seeking safety. Governments must make sure that the voices of people with experience of the asylum system are at the heart of policy on refugee rights.
Respect for international law and working with global partners is key to being able to respond to forced migration. The UK should address the reasons that lead to people having to flee their countries while working with global partners to offer sustainable solutions.
