Refugee Act amendments tabled
2008-03-14 13:20
Cape Town - Amendments to the Refugees Act tabled in Parliament on Friday will establish a Refugee Appeals Authority and bring the legislation in line with the Children's Act.
The draft Refugees Amendment Bill seeks to dissolve the existing Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs and the Refugee Appeal Board and establish a Refugee Appeals Authority.
The bill proposes the authority "confirm, set aside or substitute" earlier decisions on an asylum seeker's status.
It will have the authority to invite representations from the UN Human Rights Commission, make its own inquiries and ask the asylum seeker to appear before it.
The amendments also seek to bring the principal Act in line with the Children's Act.
The bill proposes unaccompanied children seeking asylum be issued with an asylum seeker permit and brought before the Children's Court.
- SAPA