United Kingdom

The number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK has been declining steadily since 2002. The majority of people claiming asylum in the UK come from Iran, while the number of applications from Eritrea and Afghanistan has been rising.

Alice

Alice is a musician from Kyrgystan, who was arrested and tortured for her political beliefs. Since arriving in the UK to claim asylum in 2003, she has struggled to rebuild her life and regain her health. She has spent time living on the streets, has given up her profession, and is still trying to find work.

Cleo

Cleo has lived in Scotland for seven years. She applied for asylum in 2000, but her final appeal was turned down and she is now without status. While she and her family wait for a resolution to their situation, she does her best to remain positive and to contribute to community life in Glasgow.

James

James is a qualified science teacher volunteering at the UK-based charity 'Education Action'. He fled Sierra Leone four years ago and is still waiting for a decision on his case.