Hear from refugees about the impact of family separation
We're grateful to all the refugees who have shared their stories with us to demonstrate how being separated from their families has impacted their lives.
Read moreFamilies Belong Together
Right now, unfair rules are keeping refugee families apart. We want to change that and bring #FamiliesTogether.
Where would you be without your family?
Imagine you had been forced to flee your home because of war and became separated from your mother, father, sister or brother. Alone, in a new country, you have to try and rebuild your life without the love and support of your family, all the while worrying about their safety. This is the reality faced by many refugees in the UK.
We have three simple demands to change this:
1
Fair and equal treatment for all families
All refugees must be entitled to reunite with their close family, however they arrive, wherever they’re from, and whatever their age. The government must stop treating refugees differently based on how they have arrived in the UK.
2
Reunite children with their parents
Children need their parents. Child refugees in the UK must have the right to sponsor their close family. This will help them to rebuild their lives together and integrate into their new community.
3
Expand the definition of family
The definition of who qualifies as family must be expanded so that sick or elderly parents who are dependent on family in the UK can live here in safety with their families.
4
Bring back legal aid
The reintroduction of legal aid so refugees who have lost everything have the support they need to navigate the complicated process of being reunited with their families.
Latest
Coalition reaction to latest changes to the Immigration Rules on Family Reunion
The Government’s Nationality and Borders Act makes significant changes to refugee family reunion. On 6th July, the Families Together coalition brought together more than 50 family reunion practitioners to consider the impact of the changes. The key change introduced by the Act is ‘differential treatment’, where family reunion rights are now linked to the way…
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Family Reunion Bill passes its second reading in the House of Lords
On Friday 8th July, the Family Reunion Bill passed its second reading the House of Lords. If enacted, the Bill would allow refugee children to sponsor their parents and siblings to join them in safety in the UK. It would also allow adult refugees to sponsor a greater range of family members and reintroduce legal aid for family reunion cases.
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Coalition members call for government to reunite Afghan families
A letter signed by coalition members was published in The Times on Saturday 25th June calling for the government to enable Afghan evacuees to reunite with their family members. The letter was signed by: Enver Solomon, CEO, Refugee Council Mike Adamson, chief executive, British Red Cross Dr Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, chief executive, Oxfam GB Sacha Deshmukh,
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