A report by the UNHCR accused the system of not adequately considering the “family context” of cases to ensure that children are effectively protected.
The report, which was requested by the Home Office, examined a sample of 2,768 asylum claims made by families in 2011, 14 per cent of the total number of claims that year.
Roland Schilling, the UNHCR’s UK representative, called on the Home Office to make the process more family-focused so that “all members of the family are properly identified, documented and assessed and that appropriate status and rights are bestowed upon individual family members”.
Responding to the report, immigration minister Mark Harper said: “The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and I am pleased that this report notes our progress in dealing with asylum applications for women and children.”
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