‘Authorities failing to combat racism’

June 3, 2005 in Asylum and refugees, Children

Many young asylum seekers and refugees experience racism at
school and in their communities, according to new research.

The survey, carried out by Save the Children covered nearly 100
child and adult refugees and asylum seekers living in Glasgow, also
found that a large number of children had been beaten up by young
people from host communities and that the police had to be
involved. The police and schools’ responses to racism were
described as disappointing.

Many of the asylum seekers and refugees rarely left their home
after 6pm because they did not feel safe.

Most of the adults believed that the National Asylum Support
Service’s responsibility to them had ended once they had been
dispersed to Glasgow and that they had no one to turn to for advice
and support.

The report concludes by calling for more progress to be made on
identifying ways of tackling racist behaviour among young
people.

My Mum is Now My Best Friend at:
www.savethechildren.org.uk/scotland