Do asylum seekers have rights?
Yes – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) sets out everyone’s basic human rights. Article 14 (1) says that “Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution”. Because they may in fact be refugees, asylum-seekers should enjoy the same rights as refugees unless they are found not to be refugees. They therefore have rights under the Refugee Convention. AI does not oppose return of rejected asylum seekers if they have had access to a fair and satisfactory asylum procedure and their return can take place in safety, dignity and with full respect for human rights. [link to Afghan Returns reports] Who is a migrant? A migrant is simply a person who moves from one place to another. They may be forced to leave because they are afraid, starving, or desperate for the safety and security of their family. They may move voluntarily. They may leave for a whole mixture of reasons. Do migrants have rights? Yes – Migrants are human beings, so they have human
