The Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre Limited (HKRAC) is a non-profit, human rights organisation dedicated to the provision of free legal services to refugees applying for protection. Since our establishment in 2007, we have provided life-changing legal services to over 1,300 refugee men, women, and children. HKRAC operates on a partnership model, with partners including law(…)
Human Rights in Ireland welcomes this guest post from Dr Fiona Donson. Fiona is a lecturer at UCC Faculty of Law specialising in Human Rights, Administrative Law and Criminal Law. She was formally a human rights worker in Cambodia where her experience included health and employment rights projects in Garment factories and child rights projects for UNICEF and(…)
A number of key themes emerged over the day as regards the system of direct provision. Firstly, the posts from those who have experienced the direct provision themselves (see here, here and here). These posts give but a glimpse of what it must be like to live, without a right to work, in a communal(…)
The system of direct provision is 13 years old this month. In April 2000, the system was established as a means of dealing with the relatively large numbers claiming asylum, which it was argued, was leading to accommodation shortages, particularly in the Dublin area. Some 13 years later, despite a huge fall in the numbers claiming asylum and a change(…)
Human Rights in Ireland welcomes this post from Anna, a former resident in a direct provision centre. My name is Anna. I am originally from Ghana and after spending 1 year in the direct provision system, I was granted refugee status. I was happy and proud to become an Irish Citizen after nine years. I(…)
Human Rights in Ireland welcomes this guest post from Jillian van Turnhout. Jillian is an Independent Member (Taoiseach’s Nominee) of Seanad Éireann. My entry point into the issue of direct provision is from a children’s rights perspective. This perspective has been informed by my work on related issues as the former Chief Executive of the(…)
Human Rights in Ireland welcomes this guest post from Samantha Arnold. Samantha is the Children’s and Young Persons’ Office at the Irish Refugee Council. She is the manager of the Independent Advocacy Pilot, a pilot that provides one-to-one support for separated children seeking asylum. The following stories are fictional, but based on articles in newspapers or(…)
Human Rights in Ireland welcomes this guest post from Saoirse Brady. Saoirse is the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) Policy and Advocacy Officer. Saoirse is responsible for FLAC’s policy work on social welfare law reform and is the author of One Size Doesn’t Fit All (2009), a legal analysis of the State’s direct provision and dispersal system for asylum seekers.(…)
Human Rights in Ireland welcomes this guest post from Fiona Hurley, Legal Officer in Nasc – The Irish Immigrant Support Centre One of the most striking deficiencies of direct provision is its patent inflexibility; even when and where the system is completely inadequate to meet the medical and other needs of the individual concerned. The(…)
Human Rights in Ireland welcomes this guest post from a current resident in direct provision accommodation. The author arrived in the State as an unaccompanied minor and was placed in foster care. Upon turning 18, he was informed that he had to leave his foster family and move to direct provision accommodation. Home is where(…)
