Why are people allowed to claim asylum in the UK?
The UK, along with over 130 other countries, is a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. The right to asylum was incorporated into UK law in 1993. This means that by law anyone has the right to apply for asylum in the UK and remain until a final decision on their application has been made. The UK has an obligation under international law to: • not send any person back who may be in danger of persecution • protect people who are found to be refugees The fact that an asylum seeker may have entered a country illegally does not necessarily mean that their case lacks credibility. People fleeing persecution often have to resort to the use of false documents in order to leave their home country. In recognition of this fact Article 31 of the 1951 Refugee Convention prohibits governments from penalising refugees who use false documents. Sending asylum seekers back to persecution violates international human rights standards. Article 33 of the UN Convention for R
