Why, asks a new report, was the Commission for Racial Equality’s policy shift on multiculturalism not subjected to a full race equality impact assessment? A national charity, the Public Interest Research Unit (PIRU), has published a 279-page report entitled Race Back from Equality questioning why the CRE (whose functions will be taken over next week
Theme: Violence and harassment
Gypsies and Travellers and the equalities debate
The equalities world is in a state of flux, with a wide-ranging debate triggered by the Discrimination Law Review and questions about the future of multiculturalism. Two campaigners for Travellers’ rights highlight the possible implications for Gypsies and Travellers. Gypsies and Travellers have been described as one of the most marginalised minorities in society, as
Racism in European elections
A report on the role that racism has played in recent elections and electioneering across Europe has just been published by the IRR. Focusing on the French presidential election and the general and provincial elections in the Netherlands, the special issue of the European Race Bulletin also covers twenty-one other countries and the European Parliament.
The ‘war on terror’: Libya and the UK
A recent legal judgment over deporting Libyans calls into question the protection afforded by Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). On 27 April 2007, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) gave its judgment on the appeals of two Libyan men facing deportation to Libya on the grounds that they are a risk to the national security of
Court of Appeal rules against Home Office ‘sham’ marriage rules
The Court of Appeal has ruled against the Home Secretary by upholding the right of non-European nationals, who are in genuine relationships, to marry in the UK irrespective of their immigration status. Under rules introduced in 2005, non-European nationals with limited leave to remain had to show they had a fiancé visa, or Home Office
The Oxford Companion to Black British History
This new book aims to provide schoolchildren and the public with a handy reference guide to Black British history. Black British history is a much-overlooked subject, not least in schools, where even the government’s own survey of the national curriculum noted that ‘little attention is given to the black and multi-ethnic aspects of British history’.
Border wars and asylum crimes
When Statewatch published the pamphlet Crimes of arrival in 1995, the ‘crimes’ were a metaphorical reference to the way in which the government viewed the arrival on British soil of migrants and asylum seekers. Over a decade later, a recent publication by the same author documents how the metaphor has become a literal truth. ‘Border
Still human still here
The Refugee Council has launched a campaign to help end the destitution suffered by refused asylum seekers. The campaign argues that using poverty as a means of getting people to leave the country is both ineffective and inhumane. It is calling on the government to: end the threat and use of destitution as a tool
Rights for women seeking asylum
A new CD for women seeking asylum contains a large amount of information on women’s rights and valuable tips for getting through the process. ‘Are you a woman seeking asylum in the UK?’ was produced by Asylum Aid as part of its campaign to bring greater awareness of the Home Office’s Gender Guidance Policy adopted
Dangers of the UK Borders Bill
A leading immigration lawyer points out the dangers in the UK Borders Bill. The UK Borders Bill, which had its second reading on 5 February 2007, continues the trend of previous legislation, giving immigration officers further powers, decreasing the rights of those subject to immigration control and creating further duties and penalties for them. Its