Women and children claiming asylum in the United Kingdom who fear return to their countries of origin on the basis that they will be subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) may be a member of a particular social group for the purposes of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Read more on what the UK government’s stance on the practice and how it is dealt with where an asylum seeker raises the convention reason.
A mother or father subject to deportation proceedings may be caught up in a dilemma where they have a pending appeal in the immigration Tribunal either imminently to be heard or being heard whilst an application is pending in the family courts in relation to access to a child residing in the UK who is either a British citizen or has leave to remain. The question is whether to request an adjournment or proceed with the appeal without knowing the final decision of the family courts as regards their view where the best interests of the child lies.