Current Treatment of Asylum applications from Afghan Asylum Seekers
Country |
Have
examinations been suspended? |
Comments |
Is
there an increase in negative decisions? |
What
is the current returns policy? |
Australia |
No |
Suspension on examining claims ended due to pressure from asylum seekers and human rights groups. |
No information |
Voluntary return encouraged. |
Austria |
Restarted January after an unofficial suspension of a few months and a temporary decision ban during October. |
Residence permit granted on grounds of non-refoulement until the end of June 2002 if negative decision on refugee status. |
In January 2002 all asylum applications were rejected at first instance, but all were granted non-refoulement status. |
No returns until end of June 2002. |
Belgium |
Yes |
Commissariat-General for Refugees stopped examining claims late November 2001. Will restart once situation secure enough to reject claims. |
N/A |
No one being returned until no actual fear of persecution. |
Bulgaria |
No recent decisions made. |
Government waiting for clear signs from UNHCR / international community on policy. |
N/A |
No definite policy, but no returns taking place at this time. |
Denmark |
Yes |
Suspension began 12/01/02 |
N/A |
No returns taking place. |
Finland |
No |
Most cases receive residence permit with status A.4 (Art. 20 Section 1 Para 3 of the Aliens Act), but cases pending likely to reflect changing situation. |
N/A |
Helsinki Administrative Court ruled that Afghans are in need of protection. |
France |
No |
10% increase in applications in 2001. |
No information. |
No information. |
Germany |
Unofficial suspension since November 2001. |
15,000 asylum claims are pending, and 18,000 have received only Duldung (tolerated status). |
N/A |
Taking part in IOM qualified returns programme, on which 8 Afghans have returned so far. |
Country |
Have
examinations been suspended? |
Comments |
Is
there an increase in negative decisions? |
What
is the current returns policy? |
Greece |
No |
No decisions made since December 2001, but no apparent modification of official position of the government. |
No, refugee status was granted in December. |
No returns taking place due to the application of the policy of non-refoulement. |
Hungary |
No |
Cases considered as usual. |
No information. |
No information. |
Ireland |
No |
Few requests generally received. |
No information. |
No returns known of. |
Italy |
|
|
|
|
Luxembourg |
No |
Few requests registered, no decisions made in 2001. |
No |
No returns actually foreseen. |
Netherlands |
Yes, 14/12/01 – 15/02/02. |
New Dutch Aliens Law allows ‘decision moratorium’ for up to one year when situation in country of origin unclear. Suspension likely to continue. |
N/A |
No returns taking place. |
Norway |
No |
Humanitarian residence permits likely to be granted. |
No information. |
No returns taking place. |
Portugal |
No |
‘Change of Strategy’ applied, Afghanistan no longer described as an armed conflict. |
Yes |
Recent asylum claims returned to safe third country. |
Russia |
No |
Presidential Decree on 14/10/01 closed the Migration Service so no claims are being considered. |
No figures available. |
No returns to Afghanistan at this time. |
Spain |
No |
Must prove they are from Afghanistan not Pakistan to receive asylum or complementary protection. |
No |
No specific policy. |
Sweden |
No |
Refugee or subsidiary protection status granted, so permanent or temporary residence permits given. |
N/A |
No returns taking place. |
Switzerland |
Yes |
The Swiss Federal Office has not given a precise deadline for the suspension to end. |
None noted. |
For voluntary returnees, a return assistance is available on request (CHF 2000.-/adult, CHF 500.-/child) No returns reported so far. |
Country |
Have
examinations been suspended? |
Comments |
Is
there an increase in negative decisions? |
What
is the current returns policy? |
UK |
No |
Policy is to grant one year Exceptional Leave to Remain for those who are refused asylum. This is in theory renewable. |
N/A |
Participating in UNHCR returns programme, 10 returned so far. |