Amnesty International and the Still Human Still Here coalition have published a report looking at why so many initial asylum decisions – 25% - are overturned on appeal in the UK.

On the 18th November 2013, the Dublin Regulation, which identifies which European State is responsible for deciding on an asylum application, celebrated its 10th anniversary.

There has been a call for greater protections for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) asylum seekers who, after facing extreme stigmatisation, isolation and physical and mental harm in their countries of origin, are put under increasing pressure to 'prove' their sexual orientation.

Following the amendments to the Immigration Rules on 9th July 2012, when Appendix FM was introduced to address applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK by family members, there has been concern that the current rules as drafted do not adequately reflect the UK’s obligations under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Home Affairs Committee has published its latest report on the work of the UK Border Agency, covering the second quarter of the year April– June 2012.

In its recent judgment in the case of Virabyan v. Armenia (Application no. 40094/05), the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found Armenia to have breached articles 3, 6 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).   Paul Richmond of Richmond Chambers, instructed by the Kurdish Human Rights Project, drafted both the initial application to the European Court and the response to the submission of the government of Armenia.

Hundreds of asylum seekers in Scotland, including children and pregnant women, are being left completely destitute with no support and nowhere to live, and yet they have no way of returning home safely, according to Scottish refugee charities.

The High Court today ordered the UKBA not to remove one of our clients to Uganda pending consideration of her application for leave to remain in the United Kingdom on human rights grounds.

Limited grounds for detention, better detention conditions, swifter access to the labour market and an early assessment of possible medical or psychological needs are among the improvements to the current EU rules on the reception and treatment of asylum seekers endorsed by the European civil liberties committee.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has launched an inquiry into the human rights of unaccompanied migrant children and young people in the UK, with a particular focus on those who are seeking asylum or have been the victims of trafficking.

The European Commission has published its report on the development of the European Migration Network (EMN), a Commission-led network with national contact points in each Member States, as well as Norway.

A recent report, 'The Fact of Age', issued by Maggie Atkinson, Children's Commissioner for England has revealed problems still occur in age assessments of children seeking asylum. Decision-making often does not function smoothly, which could result in children being judged to be adults.

On 9th July 2012, changes to the Immigration Rules came into force. Some of these new Rules will make it easier for people who want to stay in the UK due to their private or family life here.

In 2011, the 27 EU Member States received more than 300,000 asylum applications, a 16.2% increase from 2010.

The European Commission has published a Report on the 2011 developments in the areas of immigration and asylum, accompanied by a Eurobarometer on European citizens' attitudes towards cross-border mobility, migration and security.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has given an Opinion on what constitutes an 'act of persecution' for the purposes of recognition of refugee status for asylum seekers.

Recent data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has revealed that the number of asylum applicants registered in the EU27 rose to 301 000 in 2011.

In this case, the Court of Appeal discussed whether or not there is a 'near miss principle' in Article 8 cases.

European countries will receive more support from the EU to take up refugees under a new joint resettlement programme endorsed by the Civil Liberties Committee. The programme aims to step up the EU's role in providing international protection, especially for vulnerable groups such as women at risk and unaccompanied minors, in cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

EU Commissioner Malmström has issued a statement welcoming the European Council adoption of a common position on the Joint EU resettlement programme.