As the US government calls for major new restrictions to international refugee law at the UN General Assembly, a new essay from The Future Governance Forum (FGF) argues the UK must lead international efforts to confront the challenges posed by global mixed migration today and renew refugee protection for the twenty-first century, “or lose the agenda to the populist right”.
The FGF essay, written by Beth Gardiner-Smith (FGF Senior Policy Associate) and Emily Graham (Policy Associate), makes three new recommendations:
- Open safe, upstream processing along migration routes, building on the UK-France deal which sees asylum seeker processing take place in France
- Narrow in-country asylum claims to people who can demonstrate “good cause” for irregular entry, such as imminent threat to life
- Implement these changes multilaterally with a new ‘Implementation Protocol’ to the Refugee Convention.
Unlike calls for withdrawal from the Refugee Convention, proposed by Reform UK, the FGF essay, ‘The Refugee Convention 75 years on: The case for renewal’, says the core rights within the Refugee Convention remain as relevant as ever today and should be defended. The essay argues that to preserve the human rights framework for future generations, governments must address growing public concerns over irregular migration by adapting the 1951 Refugee Convention’s implementation to a global context ‘unrecognisable’ to the original signatories.
Similar leadership is needed today to defend and renew our commitment to those values, and the UK is uniquely placed to lead. Sir Keir Starmer has restored Britain’s credibility abroad and recommitted the government to international law. His government now has a unique opportunity to meet this moment and articulate a progressive vision for renewal of international norms.
Beth Gardiner-Smith, FGF Senior Policy Associate, said, “As the Trump administration looks set to make the case for restricting asylum at the UN this week, it’s time for the UK government to offer international leadership in pursuit of a refugee protection system that’s fairer, safer and more controlled. Today we’ve set out three new recommendations to make the refugee system fit for purpose in today’s world by: opening safe processing along migration routes, building on the UK-France deal which sees asylum seeker processing take place in France, narrowing in-country asylum claims to people who demonstrate “good cause” for irregular entry and implementing changes multilaterally with a new ‘Implementation Protocol’ to the Refugee Convention.”
‘The Refugee Convention 75 years on: the case for renewal’ essay is part of a new collection on ‘The Future of Asylum: a vision for renewal’ setting out bold progressive thinking for reform of the system to be published ahead of Labour Party Conference.
This essay collection is published as part of Part of FGF’s ‘Future of Asylum’ project, which is seeking answers to the question: in today’s world, how can the UK deliver an asylum system that works effectively, is consistent with international law, and sustains public confidence?
F Senior Policy Associate, said, “As the Trump administration looks set to make the case for restricting asylum at the UN this week, it’s time for the UK government to offer international leadership in pursuit of a refugee protection system that’s fairer, safer and more controlled. Today we’ve set out three new recommendations to make the refugee system fit for purpose in today’s world by: opening safe processing along migration routes, building on the UK-France deal which sees asylum seeker processing take place in France, narrowing in-country asylum claims to people who demonstrate “good cause” for irregular entry and implementing changes multilaterally with a new ‘Implementation Protocol’ to the Refugee Convention.”
‘The Refugee Convention 75 years on: the case for renewal’ essay is part of a new collection on ‘The Future of Asylum: a vision for renewal’ setting out bold progressive thinking for reform of the system to be published ahead of Labour Party Conference
This essay collection is published as part of Part of FGF’s ‘Future of Asylum’ project, which is seeking answers to the question: in today’s world, how can the UK deliver an asylum system that works effectively, is consistent with international law, and sustains public confidence?
