CHILD REFUGEES IN THAILAND

Early day motion 1430, tabled 27 April 2016 by Jim Shannon (DUP). Signed by 18 members.

That this House is concerned about the government of Thailand's recent policy of arbitrary arrests of asylum seekers, including Pakistani Christians, who are waiting for an interview with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to be sent to third countries, penalising them under criminal law and incarcerating such asylum seekers, including mothers with babies, in jails with criminals; urges the government of Thailand to abandon this harsh policy, recognise the papers issued by UNHCR as proof of being genuine asylum seekers and allow those asylum seekers to work temporarily in order to feed their families; and particularly reminds that government about its responsibility under the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child to offer children an alternative to detention.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 10, Labour 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Independent 1.