On 18 April 2021, Jesuit Refugee Service UK (CSAN member charity) published its report, ‘Being Human in the Asylum System’.
Sarah Teather, Director of JRS UK, and Raymond Friel, Chief Executive of CSAN, issued a joint statement marking the report’s release:
‘This report draws on years of listening to those in the asylum system. Too often, people seeking sanctuary are faced with deep suspicion and dehumanised by the asylum process. Pope Francis instead calls us to welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants and refugees. This challenges us as a society to think about how we respond to those in need. It challenges us to build a society that truly extends protection to refugees and gives them a chance to rebuild their lives at the at the heart of our communities. This challenge is especially urgent as the government proposes an overhaul of the asylum system that risks creating higher and higher barriers to protection.
‘We hope that the report Being Human can help both the Church and wider society to think afresh about how we respond to those seeking sanctuary on our shores, and about what it means to put human dignity and a culture of protection at the heart of the asylum system. People in the asylum system ask for justice, protection, and recognition of their humanity. This is a call that must be precious to the Church.’
The report has been published on JRS UK’s website.
