Helen Bamber Foundation says the UK is wrong to label Albania as a safe country of origin
The Helen Bamber Foundation (HBF) today released a new briefing looking at how the Government's classification of asylum seekers' countries of origin as 'safe' puts trafficking survivors at serious risk.
Image credit: WikipediaYou can download the 20-page briefing here.
The briefing looks specifically at Albanian survivors of trafficking and the impact of Conservative and Labour government measures to curtail the consideration of Albanian asylum claims on the basis that Albania is a safe country of origin.
HBF challenges the widespread narrative that Albanian nationals are misusing the asylum system, instead pointing to systemic issues that leave many at risk of exploitation. As the briefing highlights, past political rhetoric and media coverage have unfairly placed blame on Albanian migrants for issues within the UK asylum system. HBF references findings from the Office for Statistics Regulation, which dispute claims that large numbers of Albanians are falsely claiming to be trafficking survivors. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, for example, said in 2022 that a significant number of small boat arrivals were from Albania, a "safe, prosperous European country", implying that they did not require protection. HBF says the current Labour government continues to push the rhetoric that Albanian nationals will be returned quickly because Albania is safe.
The briefing underscores that Albania continues to be a major source country for trafficking victims, a fact acknowledged by the Home Office in its recent country guidance. HBF states that nearly a quarter of its clients who are survivors of trafficking are from Albania, though limited resources mean many others cannot be assisted. Furthermore, data from the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) suggests that Albanian adults referred for trafficking support are just as likely as other nationalities to receive confirmation of their victim status, with 82% of adults and 89% of unaccompanied children receiving positive decisions between 2019 and 2023.
HBF highlights the specific vulnerabilities of Albanian men and boys, many of whom have been exploited for forced labour or criminal activities. Some were first trafficked within Albania before being moved to the UK, while others fell into the hands of traffickers during their journey across Europe. The report notes that social stigma, particularly for victims of sexual exploitation, can prevent young men from identifying themselves as trafficking survivors, making it harder for them to access necessary support.
Albanian women and girls also face significant risks, according to HBF. Many have been subjected to sexual exploitation, often after being deceived by men pretending to offer them love and security. The report describes how patriarchal family structures can leave women with limited agency, making them more vulnerable to coercion. Once trafficked, survivors often experience severe psychological distress, including PTSD and depression. The report warns that forced returns to Albania put these individuals at high risk of re-trafficking.
The report highlights how restrictive government policies have made it increasingly difficult for Albanian asylum seekers to obtain protection in the UK. In 2022, 60% of Albanian asylum applicants were granted refugee status, a grant rate comparable to Italy and Ireland. Additionally, 57% of those who appealed an initial refusal were successful, suggesting that many claims had merit. Such figures make it clear that Albania cannot be considered a safe country, HBF argues. Despite this, the UK government has taken steps to limit Albanian asylum approvals.
In December 2022, the UK and Albanian governments signed a Joint Communique to accelerate the removal of unsuccessful claimants and foreign national offenders. Simultaneously, 'Operation BRIDORA' was launched, expediting Albanian cases with the aim of refusing as many as possible by declaring them 'clearly unfounded'. The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration later found that ministers had set a target of approving no more than 2% of Albanian claims—indicating a deliberate effort to limit asylum rather than assess cases individually.
Policy changes were combined with updates to Home Office country information to support the argument that Albania is a 'safe' country. In May 2023, the Home Office launched social media campaigns to deter Albanian nationals from coming to the UK. Additionally, many Albanian asylum cases were marked as 'withdrawn' without proper consideration. Some claimants were required to report in person but missed deadlines due to not receiving notifications or fearing detention. Their cases were then closed without assessment. These procedural barriers contributed to a sharp drop in Albanian asylum applications—from 17,340 in 2022 to just 4,542 in 2023. Meanwhile, the grant rate for Albanian asylum claims plummeted from 60% in 2022 to just 11% in 2023.
HBF warns that treating Albania as a universally 'safe' country can lead to asylum claims being improperly assessed, putting genuine trafficking survivors at risk and breaching the UK's commitments under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. In spite of government policies, the briefing points out that many Albanian asylum seekers have been granted protection in the UK, whether at first instance or on appeal.
The briefing states: "If those claims had been treated as inadmissible, their well-founded fear of persecution would never even have been considered by the Home Office. If section 59 of the Illegal Migration Act had been in force in 2023, this could have meant over 800 refugees would have been at risk of refoulement (being forcibly returned to a country where they were at risk of persecution in breach of the UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights) because their claims would never have been considered. An effectively 'blanket' ban on Albanian asylum claims would result in significant numbers of individuals who have credible asylum claims being returned to face further harm, in contravention of the UK's international and domestic legal obligations."
To ensure a fair and lawful asylum process, HBF calls for the repeal of Section 59 of the Illegal Migration Act and an end to nationality-based asylum decisions. Asylum claims should be considered individually, without arbitrary limits or policies that obstruct due process. The Government must also ensure access to properly funded legal aid, allow adequate time for gathering evidence and expert reports, and eliminate barriers that prevent trafficking survivors from accessing protection. Home Office country information on Albania should be revised to reflect actual risk factors, and no claim should be withdrawn or deemed inadmissible without proper legal consultation.
"What is needed are fair, humane, and effective systems that protect the right to claim asylum in the UK and ensure that all claims are properly and fairly considered," HBF said.