IMA survey identifies concerns about current and future protection of citizens’ rights
The third annual survey undertaken by the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (IMA), which ran from April to June 2023, found the top three areas where citizens continued to experience difficulties accessing their rights were employment, travel and healthcare.
The survey, which was completed by nearly 1,000 EU and EEA EFTA citizens found that:
- 62% of respondents felt they had not been discriminated against based on their nationality.
- 58% of respondents reported experiencing no difficulties in accessing their rights.
- 7 in 10 respondents reported awareness of their citizens’ rights.
Encouraging results from the survey show a continued increase in awareness of citizens’ rights with 7 in 10 respondents reporting awareness of their rights. Only 1 in 2 citizens were aware of their rights in the IMA’s first annual survey in 2021.
Although the majority of respondents reported no difficulties in accessing their rights, the IMA continues to recommend all UK public bodies build confidence with EU and EEA EFTA citizens, their family members, and eligible third country nationals that their rights will be protected.
The survey highlighted that 86% of all respondents indicated they had low or no trust in public bodies. This is the third year that survey results have demonstrated reducing citizen confidence.
Survey respondents made reference to the UK political environment, Windrush and futureproofing of conferred rights being influencing factors in their trust of Government and Public Authorities.
Governments in the UK and Gibraltar must also continue to promote rights in legislation, policy, and practice across all demographics, with particular concern for hard to reach, vulnerable and marginalised citizens.
Pam Everett, IMA Director of Operational Delivery said:
“As an organisation we are pleased that awareness of citizens’ rights continues to increase. We recognise that we must continue to build awareness of our organisation in order to continue to build citizens’ confidence and trust so that they are empowered to share their experiences with us so that we can take action where it is needed.”
“The results of this year’s survey serve as a reminder for all public bodies to continue to build trust with EU and EEA EFTA citizens and their family members by promoting and protecting their rights.
“Governments in the UK and Gibraltar must also continue to promote rights in legislation, policy, and practice across all demographics, with particular concern for hard to reach, vulnerable and marginalised citizens to ensure that citizen’s rights are protected and confidence is improved”