SCOTTISH REFUGEE COUNCIL'S KEY PRINCIPLES OF PROTECTION

That this House welcomes the Scottish Refugee Council's Key Principles of Protection launched to mark the end of its 30th anniversary year, which witnessed ever greater numbers of people fleeing for their lives in pursuit of safety, and the highest number of displaced persons since records began; believes that the six principles set a benchmark for how asylum seekers' and refugees' rights should be respected, ensuring that they are welcomed, treated with dignity and empowered to play a full and equal role in their new communities; notes that the Key Principles of Protection are consistent with international, European and domestic human rights and refugee law and are based on the Scottish Refugee Council's 30 years' experience of working with and for refugees in Scotland, the UK and Europe; and further believes that we should be a beacon for the rest of Europe and the world in how to respond and work with refugees, and put these principles into practice.