Extensive legislation governs the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Immigration legislation deals with applications for asylum and entitlement to services, while international law outlines the state's obligation to refugees. Additional legislation protects the rights of all children, especially unaccompanied minors.

7 Items

BMA:

Access to Health Care for Asylum Seekers - guidance notes

2001

This BMA briefing addresses the rights of asylum seekers to health care. It recommends that on arrival in the UK asylum seekers should be provided with information in a language they understand about access to health care, social services and how to register with a doctor. Those who have experienced torture also need information about how to contact an experienced medical expert.

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Free school meals are provided to children of asylum seekers

Children whose parents receive support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are entitled to free school meals.

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Refugee Council

Practical Information

The Refugee Council site carries information on UK asylum legislation - including the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. It also details entitlement to services such as education, healthcare and housing.

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Refugee Council:

Unaccompanied children

Updated 2007

The Refugee Council offer information on the rights of unaccompanied asylum seekers under the age of 18. A briefing from the Refugee Children's Consortium on the care of unaccompanied asylum seeking children can also be downloaded from the site in PDF format.

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Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:

The Health of Refugee Children

PDF format. This guide for paediatricians includes a section on the legal rights of refugee children under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1999) and UK asylum legislation.

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Translation services:

Detained - SSI inspection of compulsory mental health admissions

2001

These guidelines from the Social Services Inspectorate at the Department of Health recommend professional translation services for non-English speaking clients who are detained under the 1983 Mental Health Act.

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United Nations Association:

Refugee rights and the state

The UNA (UK) outlines the state's obligations to refugees, including the right to healthcare. The UNA expresses concern about the effects of the 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act on the automatic right to health services such as free prescriptions and the effects of dispersal on access to health care.

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