Immigration, Asylum & Refugees

Background / Overview – Scotland

Background / Overview – UK

Strategy Policy, Legislation

Listed Authorities

Race Equality Framework (REF)

Immediate Priorities Plan (IPP)

Other Accountability Mechanisms

Equity Reports

Mainstreaming Report

Immigration, Asylum & Refugees – Mainstreaming Report – 2023 to 2025

Link	Description
Equality Outcomes 2023 to 2025: New Scots	The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy, jointly led by the Scottish Government, COSLA, and Scottish Refugee Council, supports the integration of refugees, people seeking asylum, and other forced migrants into Scotland’s communities. Published in March 2024, the refreshed strategy builds on the pioneering New Scots approach which has been in place for over a decade, while addressing the impact of changes in asylum legislation and large-scale relocations and resettlement of people from Afghanistan and Ukraine. It seeks to advance equality, eliminate discrimination, and foster good relations by promoting integration within safe and welcoming communities, recognising rights and responsibilities, and celebrating the diversity and strengths New Scots bring. Guided by a rights-based approach and meaningful participation of New Scots, the strategy ensures their needs, rights, and aspirations shape policy and decision-making. Through collaboration with organisations and communities, it provides integration support from day one of arrival, creating inclusive and resilient communities across Scotland. The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: Delivery Plan 2024-2026 was published in July 2024 and contains the actions that New Scots partners are undertaking to deliver the strategy. This includes actions on a number of areas which are key for New Scots, such as a national advice and information helpline, as well as improving support around the recognition of qualifications and information on routes into employment. The delivery plan will be reviewed annually to reflect changing context, new actions required and progress. The first review will be undertaken in summer 2025.

Link

Description

Equality Outcomes 2023 to 2025: New Scots

The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy, jointly led by the Scottish Government, COSLA, and Scottish Refugee Council, supports the integration of refugees, people seeking asylum, and other forced migrants into Scotland’s communities. Published in March 2024, the refreshed strategy builds on the pioneering New Scots approach which has been in place for over a decade, while addressing the impact of changes in asylum legislation and large-scale relocations and resettlement of people from Afghanistan and Ukraine. It seeks to advance equality, eliminate discrimination, and foster good relations by promoting integration within safe and welcoming communities, recognising rights and responsibilities, and celebrating the diversity and strengths New Scots bring. Guided by a rights-based approach and meaningful participation of New Scots, the strategy ensures their needs, rights, and aspirations shape policy and decision-making. Through collaboration with organisations and communities, it provides integration support from day one of arrival, creating inclusive and resilient communities across Scotland. The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: Delivery Plan 2024-2026 was published in July 2024 and contains the actions that New Scots partners are undertaking to deliver the strategy. This includes actions on a number of areas which are key for New Scots, such as a national advice and information helpline, as well as improving support around the recognition of qualifications and information on routes into employment. The delivery plan will be reviewed annually to reflect changing context, new actions required and progress. The first review will be undertaken in summer 2025.

Periodic Report Recommendations

Immigration, Asylum & Refugees – Periodic Report Recommendation

Link	Description
Periodic Report Recommendation 21: Situation of Migrants, Asylum-Seekers and Refugees	Situation of Migrants, Asylum-Seekers and Refugees: Recalling its general recommendation No. 30 (2004) on discrimination against non-citizens, and the recommendations made by the Human Rights Committee,11 the Committee recommends that the State party review and repeal any legislative provision that discriminates against migrant groups and that limits access to rights for asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants, with a view to ensuring that its legal framework fully complies with the Convention and relevant international standards. It also recommends that the State party facilitate access to asylum procedures and to legal aid without discrimination and ensure the individual assessment of asylum applications, sufficient procedural guarantees and access to effective remedies, including against refoulement. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt all measures necessary to ensure that all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who have gone missing are accommodated in places covered by the State party’s child protection system and effectively protect them against trafficking. It further recommends that the State party revise the “no recourse to public funds” rule and ensure that it does not expose migrant households to a higher risk of poverty and precarity.
Periodic Report Recommendation 23: Windrush Generation	Windrush Generation: The Committee recommends that the State party accept and implement all the recommendations made in the Windrush Lessons Learned Review of 2020. It also recommends that the State party adopt all measures necessary to ensure that all Windrush generation victims have fair, prompt and effective access to justice, including adequate reparations. It further recommends that the State party simplify the Windrush compensation scheme.

Link

Description

Periodic Report Recommendation 21: Situation of Migrants, Asylum-Seekers and Refugees

Situation of Migrants, Asylum-Seekers and Refugees: Recalling its general recommendation No. 30 (2004) on discrimination against non-citizens, and the recommendations made by the Human Rights Committee,11 the Committee recommends that the State party review and repeal any legislative provision that discriminates against migrant groups and that limits access to rights for asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants, with a view to ensuring that its legal framework fully complies with the Convention and relevant international standards. It also recommends that the State party facilitate access to asylum procedures and to legal aid without discrimination and ensure the individual assessment of asylum applications, sufficient procedural guarantees and access to effective remedies, including against refoulement. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt all measures necessary to ensure that all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who have gone missing are accommodated in places covered by the State party’s child protection system and effectively protect them against trafficking. It further recommends that the State party revise the “no recourse to public funds” rule and ensure that it does not expose migrant households to a higher risk of poverty and precarity.

Periodic Report Recommendation 23: Windrush Generation

Windrush Generation: The Committee recommends that the State party accept and implement all the recommendations made in the Windrush Lessons Learned Review of 2020. It also recommends that the State party adopt all measures necessary to ensure that all Windrush generation victims have fair, prompt and effective access to justice, including adequate reparations. It further recommends that the State party simplify the Windrush compensation scheme.

Dr Addy's – Scottish Anti-Racism Resource Library (ARRL)