Freedom From Torture has launched a campaign action, asking MPs to call for a Home Affairs Committee inquiry into handling of torture evidence in asylum claims. Their Proving Torture Report had revealed the mistreatment of medical evidence by the Home Office as a critical issue for torture survivors which can and does result in asylum claims being incorrectly refused.
Their research has revealed that Home Office caseworkers frequently mishandle and disregard expert medical evidence of torture. Amongst those torture survivors in the study whose outcomes were known, three quarters of cases initially refused were overturned on appeal. In every single case looked at, asylum caseworkers failed to apply the correct standard of proof when assessing independent medical evidence of torture.
More on the ongoing ‘Proving Torture’ campaign here.
