Events

Does the Home Office increase the risk of human trafficking by allowing lengthy delays to occur in its administration of asylum and trafficking decisions for unaccompanied and separated children? New research by Christine Beddoe examines the experiences and views of young Albanian asylum-seeking children in the UK as well as key professionals who work with them. It finds that the result of increasing Home Office delays is that highly vulnerable children and young adults are facing greater risk of exploitation and trafficking within the UK, specifically to labour exploitation and criminal exploitation. The system is in effect pushing children into the arms of traffickers. And, as a consequence, the UK government is failing in its legal obligations to protect the victims and potential victims of trafficking. Download the research here: https://miclu.org/into-the-arms-of-traffickers.

An add-on to our series of 'Breaking the Chains' legal seminars centred around representing child and young asylum seekers. David Neale, Legal Researcher at Garden Court Chambers, will argue that the old country guidance case of DM is not an accurate reflection of the current position, and that many Albanians who fear domestic violence at the hands of their families will not be able to avail themselves of a sufficiency of state protection. This includes some boys and young men. David will also be exploring the vulnerability of some domestic violence survivors to trafficking/exploitation on return, even where they have not been trafficked in the past. This seminar will be useful to lawyers representing Albanian nationals and in assessing merits in Albanian asylum claims, including those who are challenging certification decisions by Judicial Review. To register, click here. To view the seminar paper click here. For more information about the Breaking the Chains project, click here.  

The fourth in a series of four 'Breaking the Chains' legal seminars centred around representing child and young asylum seekers. Children and young people from Albania will give an insight into this Balkan country with a history of clan violence, blood feuds, revenge killings and honour based violence. Little is understood about this source country for one of the largest groups of trafficked woman and children to reach the UK. This seminar presents an opportunity for lawyers and other practitioners to increase their understanding of life in the Balkans from those with lived experience. With MiCLU's Gurpinder Kaur Khanba and Esme Madill, and Shpresa Programme’s Immigration Champions. To register, click here. For more information about the Breaking the Chains project, click here. 

The third in a series of four 'Breaking the Chains' legal seminars centred around representing child and young asylum seekers. Kathryn Cronin, Senior Barrister at Garden Court Chambers, will explore the challenges in working with children and young people in the hostile environment. She will use examples from her own work to identify best practice in working with this vulnerable client group. This seminar will be of help to all those representing children and young people.   To register, click here. For more information about the Breaking the Chains project, click here.    To view the recording of the seminar, click here.

The second in a series of four 'Breaking the Chains' legal seminars centred around representing child and young asylum seekers. Gurpinder Kaur Khanba, Casework Supervisor at the Breaking the Chains project, will highlight the critical role of expert evidence in Albanian claims including the need for frontloading. This seminar will assist those seeking to secure funding for expert reports at an early stage from the Legal Aid Agency.  To register, click here. For more information about the Breaking the Chains project, click here.  To view the recording of the seminar, click here. To view the handout click here.  

The first in a series of four 'Breaking the Chains' legal seminars centred around representing child and young asylum seekers. David Neale, Legal Researcher at Garden Court Chambers will be critiquing the Albanian Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) on blood feuds and arguing that asylum claims based on blood feuds should not be certified as "clearly unfounded". He will also be discussing the possible routes to a successful asylum claim for Albanian boys and young men who are victims of trafficking and/or domestic violence. This seminar will be useful to lawyers representing Albanian nationals and in assessing merits in Albanian asylum claims, including those who are challenging certification decisions by Judicial Review.   To register, click here. For more information about the Breaking the Chains project, click here.  To view the recording of the seminar, click here.

Presenting key learnings about how effective legal representation can be provided to children and young people vulnerable to exploitation, and what more is needed to create effective change. Click to register here before 21 September. View the flyer with programme here.

This free event aims to critique the Home Office practice of certifying most Albanian asylum claims, including those of children, as clearly unfounded – denying people the right to appeal the decision in the UK. Speakers will cover Home Office practice in this area and asylum claims arising from blood feuds, trafficking and domestic violence. Participants will learn about tools to challenge Home Office practice and increase successful outcomes for Albanian children and young people. Taking place on Wednesday 19 June 2019 from 6.30pm-8pm at Garden Court Chambers, to register click here.

This free event marks the launch of Breaking the Chains, a partnership project dedicated to improving outcomes for Albanian children and young people seeking asylum in the UK. Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, this project works with children and young people in the asylum system, providing them with high quality casework while listening to and amplifying their voices to share our learning about how best to protect this vulnerable group. The project also offers a chance to think strategically about the issues faced by Albanian children and young people, and to harness their energy and talent to provide peer support within and across communities. The event is targeted at lawyers, social workers, academics, foster carers, teachers, NGOs and campaign groups working with and for Albanian children and young people, but will be useful for anyone working with children and young people in the asylum system. Come and hear from children and young people and those representing them. Taking place on Thursday, 25 April 2019 from 16:30 to 18:30 at the Houses of Parliament, to register click here and to view the programme click here.

This free event taking place on Friday, 1 June 2018 aims to bring together specialist barristers and solicitors to consider how legal professionals and others who support young Albanians in the UK can ensure that children from Albania are granted meaningful protection against the risks of return to abuse in their country of origin or further exploitation in the UK. The event proper starts at 2.15-5pm (with soft reception and light lunch from 1.15pm) at the Houses of Parliament (Portcullis House) and is jointly organised by MiCLU and Shpresa Programme, and sponsored by the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP. Young people will be present to speak about their experiences and answer questions, and expert speakers will talk on the following topics: Blood feud cases and challenging the country guidance Representing trafficking victims and strategic litigation considerations Child-centred case work and how to work with young people Review of country of origin literature and addressing the gaps in research For more information about the challenges working with unaccompanied Albanian asylum-seeking children read here. For the event programme click here. To register click here.