This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New dialogue begins with refugees
18/03/2002
Women and young refugees are among those to be targeted under a new move by the Executive to widen its dialogue with asylum seekers, refugees and host communities.
The Executive will begin work soon with a range of organisations including the Scottish Refugee Council, Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Council for Voluntary Services to look at how to tap more effectively into a wider range of views from asylum seekers, refugees and local communities.
Speaking at a conference today organised in Glasgow by the Scottish Refugee Council and Glasgow Council for Voluntary Services, Social Justice Minister Iain Gray said:
"The move is designed to ensure that decision-makers hear from a wider range of voices across the wide spectrum of ethnic groups, nationalities and cultures in our refugee communities.
"This will help us ensure that we can fulfil our commitment to welcome and assist asylum seekers and refugees to Scotland.
"We recognise that there are a number of very active organisations and networks which have - and will continue - to welcome and reflect the interests of asylum seekers, refugees and local communities.
"But the dispersal of asylum seekers to Scotland has brought new challenges. We therefore want to reach out to all sections of the new communities so that regardless of gender, age or nationality we can learn from their experience.
"We want to encourage the development of a more strategic approach. In this way we can share experience and learn from what is happening at the grassroots across our communities."
"Working together, sharing and learning means that we will be able to do more and do it better."
The Executive is committed to supporting asylum seekers and refugees and protecting them from the threat of racist attack and harassment. In its work the Executive wants to build dialogue with refugees, asylum seekers and host communities.
2. The collaborative work aims to support the longer-term development of refugee communities, networking and advocacy. Key outputs will include:
- A structured network of links to refugee communities and asylum seekers to inform the work of the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum
- A means to pilot consultation methodologies with a range of refugee communities and interests within refugee communities such as women or carers
- A mapping of community development resources which would build on earlier work by Scottish Refugee Council (SRC), GCVS and Glasgow City Council's Asylum Support Project Team as well as within the West of Scotland and East of Scotland Refugee Forums which are facilitated by SRC
- Case studies and a framework for ongoing collection of examples of good practice
- A short guide to support statutory and voluntary agencies in their own work on building dialogue with asylum seekers, refugees and host communities.
The Scottish Refugee Integration Forum was set up at the end of 2001 to bring together Scotland's statutory and voluntary agencies to more effectively support refugees. It is chaired by Iain Gray and has a number of roles including the consideration of all matters required to assist refugees to integrate into life in Scotland.