The Independent Asylum Commission
was launched on 18th October 2006 at the House of Commons. The review was one of the recommendations from the Public Inquiry into Lunar House which reported in 2005. (For a full copy of the report please see www.southlondoncitizens.org.uk.)
The Commission, was Co- Chaired by Sir John Waite and Ifath Nawaz, and embarked on an eighteenth month review of the UK asylum system operating through public hearings, research and a call for evidence.
Public hearings took place in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow.
The Commission also sought original academic research and the Refugee Studies Centre in Oxford and the ICAR at City University worked with the Commission.
The Commission’s approach wasinformed by the principle that the asylum system should be fair, just and consistent with UK’s human rights obligations. The review examineed key stages and aspects of the asylum process including:
• Access to the asylum determination process
• The operation of the asylum determination process
• The operation of the asylum appeals process
• Treatment of vulnerable groups in the asylum process
• Detention of asylum seekers
• The removal of refused asylum seekers
• Material support and accommodation for asylum seekers including those at the end of the asylum process
The Independent Asylum Commission published its reports and interim findings in 2008.
JULY 10th 2008 –
3rd REPORT OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Deserving Dignity
JUNE 30th 2008 –
2nd REPORT OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Safe Return
MAY 20th 2008 –
1st REPORT OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Saving Sanctuary
MAY 20th 2008 -
Saving Sanctuary Opinion Poll Results
MARCH 27th 2008 -
INTERIM FINDINGS - Fit for Purpose Yet?
Commissioners
Revd Dr Cannon Nicholas Sagovsky
Katie Ghose
Dr Shammit Saggar
Lord David Ramsbotham GCB CBE
Dr Sylvia Casale
Earl of Sandwich
Zrinka Bralo
Jacqueline Parlevliet
For further information about the Commission contact Jonathan Cox, Co-ordinator, Independent Asylum Commission, COF, 112 Cavell Street, London E1 2JA, tel. 020 7375 1658, mobile 07919 484066.
Cohabitation: the Financial Consequences of Relationship Breakdown
The Law Commission is currently considering the introduction of a new law which will affect what happens to the property and finances of cohabiting couples on the termination of their relationships by separation or death.
The Law Commission’s consultation paper was completed on the 4th May 2006 and the deadline for responses was the 30th September 2006. Further details of the consultation stage can be found at:
Website: http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/cohabitation.htm
Overview: http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/docs/cp179_overview.pdf
Consultation Paper: http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/docs/cp179.pdf
Since a Muslim nikah marriage is not regarded as a legally valid marriage in the eyes of English law, Muslim couples in the UK who have only been married in accordance with the nikah contract are categorised as cohabitees, not as husband and wife.
This means that the proposed new scheme which will govern the financial affairs of cohabitees whose relationship ends by separation or death will apply to Muslims who marry only in accordance with the nikah contract - unless they choose to opt out of the scheme at the time of their marriage.
The implementation of the proposed scheme may or may not permit the English civil courts to take into account the provisions of the Shari’a which apply when an Islamic marriage comes to an end as a result of separation, divorce or death.
For the AML response to the Law Commission’s proposals click here