Submission Documents: By Councillor Susan Aitken:- "Council has watched with horror the tragic situation in Afghanistan as the takeover of the country by the Taliban has seen the collapse of democratically elected government and national institutions and the reverse of 2 decades of fragile progress in the establishment of human rights, particularly for women and girls. Council expresses its deep sympathy and solidarity with the Afghan people and with Glasgow's Afghan community, many of whom came here as refugees from war and past Taliban atrocities and abuses, and who now live in fear for the safety of family members still living in Afghanistan. Council deeply regrets that the sacrifices and losses suffered by the Afghan people and UK and international armed forces personnel have led to this outcome and believes that it counts among the biggest foreign policy failure of modern times. Council particularly fears for the safety of Afghan women and girls, recalling that when the Taliban were last in control, women and girls were denied education, employment, participation in public life and freedom of movement and stripped of their most basic liberties and human rights. Council is extremely sceptical of Taliban claims that this won't be repeated and urges the UK Government not to take any statements of assurance by the Taliban at face value. Council notes that Glasgow has so far agreed to receive 64 refugees under the UK Government Afghan Resettlement Scheme; further notes that Glasgow HSCP officers are working with RSL partners to identify suitable accommodation to house more refugees; and instructs the Chief Executive to explore every available avenue to further increase the numbers of Afghan refugees we are able to accommodate safely and securely in the city. Council believes that the UK's Afghan Refugee Resettlement Scheme currently falls short of what is required proportionate to the scale of the unfolding humanitarian emergency. Council believes that the past actions of UK governments have significantly contributed to the creation of this crisis and that the UK has a moral obligation to do everything it can do aid the Afghan people, in particular women, children and those on whom the Taliban is likely to seek vengeance for having served in the Afghan armed forces or other national institutions. Council therefore calls on the UK Government to go further and faster in its response both in the provision of aid and in supporting the evacuation and safe resettlement of Afghan nationals, ensuring that further immediate resources are made available to support local authorities to significantly increase the numbers of Afghan refugees they are able to accommodate. Council instructs the Chief Executive to seek further resources from the UK Government to support Glasgow's resettlement work. Council notes finally that the proposals in the UK Government's Nationality and Borders Bill - which would breach the UN Refugee Convention by seeking to criminalise asylum-seeking people who arrive in the UK via another country and which would reduce the rights of refugees living in the UK and diminish the support given to asylum seekers - are even more egregious in the light of the Afghan refugee crisis, and pledges its support to campaigns by the Scottish Refugee Council and others to oppose this anti-refugee bill." Help Icon

This is the list of documents available for the submission By Councillor Susan Aitken:- "Council has watched with horror the tragic situation in Afghanistan as the takeover of the country by the Taliban has seen the collapse of democratically elected government and national institutions and the reverse of 2 decades of fragile progress in the establishment of human rights, particularly for women and girls. Council expresses its deep sympathy and solidarity with the Afghan people and with Glasgow's Afghan community, many of whom came here as refugees from war and past Taliban atrocities and abuses, and who now live in fear for the safety of family members still living in Afghanistan. Council deeply regrets that the sacrifices and losses suffered by the Afghan people and UK and international armed forces personnel have led to this outcome and believes that it counts among the biggest foreign policy failure of modern times. Council particularly fears for the safety of Afghan women and girls, recalling that when the Taliban were last in control, women and girls were denied education, employment, participation in public life and freedom of movement and stripped of their most basic liberties and human rights. Council is extremely sceptical of Taliban claims that this won't be repeated and urges the UK Government not to take any statements of assurance by the Taliban at face value. Council notes that Glasgow has so far agreed to receive 64 refugees under the UK Government Afghan Resettlement Scheme; further notes that Glasgow HSCP officers are working with RSL partners to identify suitable accommodation to house more refugees; and instructs the Chief Executive to explore every available avenue to further increase the numbers of Afghan refugees we are able to accommodate safely and securely in the city. Council believes that the UK's Afghan Refugee Resettlement Scheme currently falls short of what is required proportionate to the scale of the unfolding humanitarian emergency. Council believes that the past actions of UK governments have significantly contributed to the creation of this crisis and that the UK has a moral obligation to do everything it can do aid the Afghan people, in particular women, children and those on whom the Taliban is likely to seek vengeance for having served in the Afghan armed forces or other national institutions. Council therefore calls on the UK Government to go further and faster in its response both in the provision of aid and in supporting the evacuation and safe resettlement of Afghan nationals, ensuring that further immediate resources are made available to support local authorities to significantly increase the numbers of Afghan refugees they are able to accommodate. Council instructs the Chief Executive to seek further resources from the UK Government to support Glasgow's resettlement work. Council notes finally that the proposals in the UK Government's Nationality and Borders Bill - which would breach the UN Refugee Convention by seeking to criminalise asylum-seeking people who arrive in the UK via another country and which would reduce the rights of refugees living in the UK and diminish the support given to asylum seekers - are even more egregious in the light of the Afghan refugee crisis, and pledges its support to campaigns by the Scottish Refugee Council and others to oppose this anti-refugee bill.".

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Name Type of Document Access View Document
Item Minute - 09 September 2021 Minute Public Open Document in PDF Format
(101 KB)

 

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