Good practice in social care for refugees and asylum seekers
Background: A rights-based approach for asylum seekers and refugees with social care needs
Adopting a rights-based approach to social care is the best way of ensuring that the principles of equality and respect identified by asylum seekers and refugees in the research review are met (see page 19).
While such an approach recognises that asylum seekers with social care needs are vulnerable, it does so through the lens of human rights. Adopting a rights-based approach implies that statutory authorities have a responsibility and duty in relation to the social care needs of asylum seekers and refugees. Rights are universal and are codified in international conventions and national legislation. Equalities legislation in the UK is being brought together in order to streamline the existing law to promote equality so that all individuals can fulfil their potential and for the creation of a cohesive society and for a strong economy.
Links to International Conventions and relevant briefings
- Geneva Convention 1951
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
- A summary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
- European Convention on Human Rights
- A template for assessing requests for assessment or resources from asylum seekers with no recourse to public funds, with regard to the European Convention on Human Rights, is available on the ADASS website
Links to UK legislation and briefings
- Human Rights Act (1998)
- Equality Act (2006) (PDF file)
- Equality Bill (2008)
- Ministry of Justice (2006): Making sense of human rights (PDF file)
