Wednesday 14 August 2013

Immigration: [wishes/feelings of child before decision to detain parents]



-  Stop Deportation of Bangladeshi Lesbian
-  Wishes/feelings of child before decision to detain parents]
-  Central African Republic [UK Condemns Unconstitutional Seizure of Power]

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Immigration:  [wishes/feelings of child before decision to detain parents]

Baroness Lister of Burtersett  to ask Her Majesty's Government how the Home Office ascertains and takes into account the wishes and feelings of children before making decisions to hold parents in immigration detention, continue their detention, or deport or forcibly remove them; and how the Home Office's duties to safeguard children and promote their welfare under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 are implemented in such situations.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Where detention of an immigration offender, or continued detention in the case of a criminal who is already separated from his family by virtue of the custodial sentence passed by the courts, will affect a pre-existing family unit it is our practice to ensure that safeguarding child welfare issues are taken into account, and weighed against the need to detain and implement deportation or removal.

In such cases close attention is given to Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The aims of both these are supported by paragraphs 396 to 400 of the Immigration Rules.

These changes were introduced on 9 July 2012 so as to deliver in individual cases where a parent is liable to deportation outcomes that are compatible with the two conventions mentioned and with Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. In all such cases we are open to discovering the views of the children concerned. This is done principally through the parents and others who are in close contact with the children and are trusted by them.

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Central African Republic [UK Condemns Unconstitutional Seizure of Power]

Baroness Berridge  to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the political situation and law and order in the Central African Republic.[HL2071]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The UK condemns the unconstitutional seizure of power in the Central African Republic (CAR) by the Seleka rebel coalition. We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the country, particularly reports of human rights violations, violence, and looting; and the difficulties humanitarian agencies face in gaining access to those in need. We urge CAR's National Transitional Council to work towards restoring security on the ground, and to ensure that civilians are protected.

We are working with our partners in the UN and EU to support the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the African Union (AU) as they seek a lasting solution to CAR's instability. We welcome ECCAS and the AU's progress on increasing their efforts to restore stability to the country. But political progress towards the implementation of a constitutional government is also vital. We therefore welcome the April 2013 agreement that CAR's National Transitional Council would uphold the spirit of the Librevllle agreement and that elections would he held within 18 months.

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This part of message forwarded from Movement for Justice

Stop Deportation of Bangladeshi Lesbian

Please let MFJ know of any actions taken <mfj@ueaa.net>

Dina is a young lesbian from Dhaka in Bangladesh, where she had to keep her sexuality a secret from her family and the wider society - in Bangladesh she would be liable to a 10 year prison sentence. She is now in Yarl's Wood detention centre facing the threat of deportation

Dina's family forced her to marry despite her strong opposition. They arranged a marriage with a man of Bangladeshi origin living in Britain; the marriage was conducted over the phone and she was sent here in August 2011. She suffered repeated physical abuse from her husband when she refused to have sex with him, but she met a Bangladeshi lesbian in London with whom she developed a relationship. Her husband's violence became worse when he discovered the truth about her sexuality.

h the help of some friends Dina escaped to Blackpool where she was working in an Indian restaurant. She met an English lesbian there and they started a relationship, but she was arrested when the restaurant was raided in May this year. She made an asylum application but was rushed through 'Fast Track' where you are assumed to be lying until you somehow 'prove' that you aren't, while you are isolated in detention so you can't gather evidence.

Now Dina faces deportation this Saturday 17 May. Her sexuality is now known by her relatives and other people in Dhaka and has already caused problems for the family. If she is forced back to Bangladesh she will alone, unsupported and face certain persecution and possible imprisonment because of her sexuality.

Dina must be able to live safely as who she is. She must not be returned to face homophobic persecution. The Home Office plans to deport Dina on Qatar Airlines Flight QR018 from Heathrow at 08.00am on Saturday 17 May.

Flood Qatar Airlines with call and faxes demanding that they do not collude with Dina's deportation - Remind them that in January they colluded in the deportation of another lesbian, Jackie Nanyonjo, to Uganda and she later died as a result of the brutal treatment she received from the Transcor guards on their plane.

London Ticket Desk:  0207 341 6066 & 0844 846 8380 - fax 0207 341 6029

Heathrow Office:  208 976 5621 - fax 208 976 5623


Phone/Email Home Office ministers to demand the cancellation of Dina's removal - Quote her Home Office reference A1831450


Theresa May, Home Secretary

 
Mark Harper, Minister for Immigration,


Copy e-mails to the following Home Office & UKBA addresses:


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End of Bulletin: Source for this Message as per URLs
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