Member

I end by recalling that Article 31 prohibits the general imposition of penalties on refugees on account of their unlawful entry or presence in the country where they claim asylum. This protection applies to refugees who come directly from the state where they face persecution. So Amendment 203 gives effect to the JCHR recommendations that the offences in Clauses 13, 14 and 16 of the Bill, as well as the offence of illegal entry under Section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971, should be added to Section 31 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, which provides a statutory defence for refugees in certain circumstances.