With its flagship Illegal Migration Act adding Albania to a list of safe countries, the UK government has sought to enable the direct refoulement of asylum seekers. Lawyers representing these cases have found themselves at the cutting edge of human rights, running cases at the forefront of a battle with serious implications for the protection of human rights in the UK.
The Home Office claim that Albania is a safe country to return to and historically Albanian cases have often been considered challenging to run. Yet in 2022 60% of Albanians seeking asylum were granted asylum on initial application, and the Home Office’s own research supports the fact that a significant number of Albanian asylum seekers still face persecution in their home country.
This free legal seminar examines the country of origin evidence crucial to determining these cases and considers corresponding lines of strategy for successfully running cases.
David Neale of Garden Court Chambers will present an analysis and critique of the recently updated Home Office Country and Policy Information Notes on Albania, and you will hear directly from young asylum seekers and refugees about why they travel to the UK, the realities of risk on return, and how racist rhetoric and policies are impacting their lives.
There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers.
Following the main talk and presentations there will be refreshments and Albanian dancing.
To register please check out the Eventbrite page: https://unsafe.eventbrite.co.uk
Tickets close on 24 October. Please book early as places are limited.
This seminar is being held in partnership with Garden Court Chambers, through Shpresa and the Migrant and Refugee Children's Legal Unit (based at Islington Law Centre)'s joint project Breaking the Chains, which is dedicated to improving outcomes for Albanian children and young people seeking asylum in the UK.