Asylum seekers and refugees: rights and responsibilities

Rights and responsibilities of people seeking asylum or with refugee status. There are organisations that offer advice and support.

Your rights

As somebody living in the United Kingdom, it is your responsibility to:

respect the rights of other people - this means not exercising your rights in a way which is likely to stop someone else from being able to exercise theirs

obey the law

care for your children (for example, an adult must always supervise children under the age of 16, and if they are aged between 5 and 16 they must have full-time education - usually at school

Find out more about asylum applicants' rights and responsibilities on the GOV.UK website:

Asylum applicants' rights and responsibilities

Your rights in Northern Ireland

Find out more about your rights if you are living, working or visiting Northern Ireland.

Find out your rights

Advice and support

The following organisations offer advice and support to minoritised ethnic communities:

ACSONI

9 Lower Crescent
Belfast
BT7 1NR

phone: 028 9043 4090
website: ACSONI

Africa House (NI)

13a Curran House
Twin Spires Centre
155 Northumberland Street
Belfast
BT13 2JF

email: info@africahouseni.org
website: Africa House

Advice NI

phone: 0800 915 4604
email: advice@adviceni.net
website: Advice NI

African Caribbean Community Network

phone: 077 2031 9652
email: info@accn-lderry.co.uk
website: African Caribbean Community Network

ArtsEkta

Glendinning House
6 Murray Street
Belfast
BT1 6DN

phone: 028 9023 1381
email: admin@artsekta.org.uk
website: ArtsEkta

Belfast City of Sanctuary

283 Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 3GG

email: belfastcityofsanctuary@gmail.com
website: Belfast City of Sanctuary

BOMOKO NI

phone: 074 8830 6233 or 028 9693 5919
email:info@bomokoni.org.uk
website: BOMOKO NI

British Red Cross – Refugee Support Service

Botanic House
1-5 Botanic Avenue
Belfast
BT7 1JG

phone: 028 9032 3055 or 078 4334 4601
email: RSNorthernIreland@redcross.org.uk

Chinese Welfare Association

1 Stranmillis Embankment
Belfast
BT7 1GB

phone: 028 9028 8277
email: office@cwa-ni.org
website: Chinese Welfare Association

Counselling All Nations Services (CANS)

1 Stranmillis Embankment
Belfast
County Antrim
BT7 1GB

phone: 075 9613 9247
email: cansinfo@counsellingallnations.org
website: Counselling All Nations Services (CANS)

ERANO

2 Drumragh Avenue
Omagh,
BT78 1DP

phone:077 8370 6598
website: ERANO

Flourish NI

Room 101
City East Business Centre
68 to 72 Newtownards Road
Belfast
BT4 1GW

phone: 028 9009 8828
email: info@flourishni.org
website: Flourish NI

HAPANI

Botanic House
1 to 5 Botanic Avenue
Belfast
BT7 1JG

phone: 028 9031 5778 or 074 1352 5951
website: HAPANI

Law Centre NI

phone: 028 9024 4401
email: admin@lawcentreni.org
website: Law Centre NI

Migrant Centre NI

phone: 033 0088 0464
email: admin@migrantcentreni.org
website: Migrant Centre NI

Northern Ireland Somali Association

185a Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 1SQ

North West Islamic Association

Hyde Business Park
3 Pennyburn Industrial Estate
Londonderry
BT48 0LU

email: info@nwia.org.uk
website: North West Islamic Association

North West Migrant Forum

Embassy Building
3 Strand Road
Derry
BT48 7BH

phone: 079 1229 5771
email: info@nwmf.org.uk
website: North West Migrant Forum

Starling Collective

129 University Street
Belfast
BT7 1HP

phone: 028 9013 5531
email: info@starlingcollective.org.uk
website: Starling Collective

Strabane Ethnic Community Association

2 Abercorn Square
Strabane
County Tyrone
BT82 8AN

phone: 028 7188 6419

Stronger Together

STEP
The Junction
12 Beechvalley Way
Dungannon
BT70 1BS

phone: 028 8775 0211
email: info@strongertogetherni.org
website: Stronger Together

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY)

NICCY aims to safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and young people. If you wish to raise any issues or concerns that affect children and young people you can contact them using the following link:

NICCY - complaints referral form

LGBTQIA+ rights

It is against the law for an employer to discriminate against you because of your sexual orientation.

You're also protected against harassment or bullying at work.

If you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual person and you need advice and support, the following organisations can help:

More information

Human rights

Marriage, civil partnerships and living together

Living together

Parental rights

Domestic violence

Employees

People with disabilities

Children and young people

Older people

Carers

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