Article 31 of the 1951 Refugee Convention is concerned with "refugees unlawfully in the country of refuge."
Article 31 of the Refugee Convention (114 KB , PDF)
Article 31 is often raised by people concerned about asylum abuse, and asylum rights defenders, in the context of debates about:
These issues are central to the Government’s New Plan for Immigration policy statement (March 2021), and the related Nationality and Borders Bill which is currently before Parliament.
This short briefing provides an overview of Article 31 and its relevance to the Government’s new asylum proposals. A separate Library briefing (CBP 9725) provides additional background about provisions in the Nationality and Borders Bill.
Article 31 of the Refugee Convention (114 KB , PDF)
Many Members of Parliament are dealing with a lot of enquiries from constituents asking how relatives or friends in Afghanistan might be able to come to the UK and there is considerable interest in the effectiveness of the bespoke resettlement and relocation schemes for Afghan nationals.
People arriving under the Afghan resettlement and relocation schemes are eligible for integration support in the UK including help to find housing, work and learn English. A programme to end the use of temporary hotel accommodation was completed by September 2023 although there are some households still waiting to move into settled accommodation.
The UK spent £3.7 billion, or 29% of its aid budget, supporting refugees in the UK in 2022. This drew criticism from aid groups. What is the Government response?