The Refugee Council is holding fringe events at the political party conferences this autumn to discuss the dangerous situations in countries refused asylum seekers flee from but often do not return to when they are refused protection in the UK. The specific countries we are focusing on are Eritrea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia and Zimbabwe, as a large number of refugees have fled these countries in recent years and a high proportion of destitute refused asylum seekers in the UK are also from there.

The panel will discuss the human rights abuses, conflict and persecution taking place in these countries, and the reasons asylum seekers fear returning. They will also cover the impact this has on people who do no return, many who are forced into destitution and have few rights.

Full details here:

Labour party conference fringe

‘No fate like home: why refused asylum seekers do not return’
Wednesday 3 October at 13.00 in Room Central 4, Manchester Central

Chris Bryant MP, Shadow Immigration Minister
Paul Kenyon, BBC broadcast journalist (Panorama) who has focused on migration from African countries to reach safety in Europe
Asli Tedros, Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) Manchester
Mike Kaye (Chair), Still Human Still Here

Conservative party conference fringe – NOW CANCELLED

‘No fate like home: why refused asylum seekers do not return’
Tuesday 9 October at 19.30 in Exec Room 8, in the ICC, Birmingham

We will also be holding a meeting with Liberal Democrats later in the year.