Evidence submitted by the UK office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
UNHCR writes in response to your request for submissions
regarding the workings of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission
(SIAC).
UNHCR urges the Committee to consider whether
SIAC guarantees "fair and effective procedures for determining
status and protection needs."[1]
We would like to reiterate our concerns in relation to SIAC, particularly
in relation to the limited amount of time available for appeals
by detainees, the restriction on the entitlement to an oral hearing,
the time limits for the Secretary of State to contest an application
for bail, and the summoning of witnesses. UNHCR hopes that this
inquiry will consider these fundamental principles in the context
of this inquiry.
We hope this information will be of use to you.
We would be very interested in receiving the conclusions made
by the Committee in writing when the inquiry is complete.
Christian Mahr
Acting Deputy Representative
UNHCR London
2 February 2005
1 UNHCR Executive Committee Conclusions No 82, "Safeguarding
Asylum", para d(ii), 17 Oct 1997 Back
| 
