Games ban on refugees faces legal challenge
Volunteer status denied to asylum seekers
THE Equality and Human Rights C o mmis s i o n ( EHRC) is being urged to take legal action over prospective refugees being denied the chance to volunteer at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The director of Positive Action in Housing (PAIH), Robina Qureshi, called for the commission’s Scottish office to challenge the rule in the Court of Session and warned that campaign groups are likely to protest over the “discriminatory and unjust” policy.
Under strict criteria for volunteering for the Games, all applicants must be permitted to work in the UK, a regulation which rules out Glasgow’s large population of asylum seekers, many from Commonwealth countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.
Qureshi said: “The organising committee is supposed to ensure the Games celebrate diversity and inclusion, but the criteria they have set for volunteering breaches that.
“We think the EHRC should speak out on this important issue of diversity and launch a legal challenge in the Court of Session.”
She added: “If they don’t open their eyes and change that policy, the Games will be tainted, and we anticipate protests by refugee and human-rights groups.”
Under current UK Border Agency (UKBA) rules, asylum seekers can volunteer in the UK but cannot take up paid work.
However, Glasgow 2014 organisers claim the criteria for volunteers was set after consultation with the Home Office, UKBA and the police.
Gary Christie of the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) said: “The blanket ban has disappointed many refugees and asylum seekers.
“It would seem the organising committee have fallen at the first hurdle in ensuring the accessibility and diversity of the Games for everyone in Scotland.
“We hope the Scottish Government can make the organising committee see sense while there is time for applications to be made.”
The SRC is in the process of arranging a meeting with the Minister of Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison, in the hope she may be able to offer a solution.
A spokesman for Glasgow 2014 said they are “committed to delivering an accessible, diverse and inclusive Games”.
He added: “We understand that most refugees and individuals with humanitarian protection status, and a small number of asylum seekers, will be able to meet the criteria.
“There may, however, be some who will not meet the criteria, or will not be able to provide the necessary documents. This will typically include those who have made recent claims for asylum.
“In these circumstances, we cannot anticipate whether individual cases will have been considered and concluded by Games time and therefore whether those individuals would be able to take up volunteer roles even if offered.”
The spokesman added that the committee will look at other ways of ensuring refugees can get involved in the Games.
A spokeswoman for the EHRC was unable to comment.
Meanwhile, more than 9000 people from as far away as the US and Equatorial Guinea have applied to be volunteers at the Ryder Cup, despite having to pay £ 75 for the privilege. Organisers of the Gleneagles event in September 2014 have been criticised over the fee to be paid by those offering to help out by filling such roles as scoreboard carriers and safety marshals.