Context
Over 65 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes, more than at any time on record. Since the beginning of 2014, around 1.7 million people have travelled to Europe by sea. Thousands have lost their lives.
The media has framed this as a migration crisis for Europe, rather than for the people who risk their lives trying to reach our shores. It has created negative stereotypes of refugees and migrants, often ignoring their complex individual stories and denying them a voice.
The people who make these dangerous journeys do so because they are desperate. They are fleeing violence and human rights abuses in their home countries. Under international law, anyone fleeing violence, persecution, war or disaster has the legal right to apply for asylum. There is no such thing as an ‘illegal’ asylum seeker.
In 2016, the more than half of the world’s refugees came from just three countries: Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan. Most do not attempt to travel to Europe. Around 84% have sought sanctuary in developing countries, usually those that border their own. The countries currently hosting the largest numbers of refugees are Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran, Uganda and Ethiopia.
Here in the UK, we host less than 1% of the world’s refugees and receive around 3% of Europe’s asylum claims. Of the 5.5 million Syrians who have been forced to flee their country, we have agreed to resettle just 20,000. As of June 2017, we had taken 8,283.
The asylum system in the UK is extremely harsh. People seeking asylum must live on £5.28 a day while they are waiting for the outcome of their case and the government can detain them indefinitely. In 2016, 13,230 people were locked up in detention centres during the asylum process, including 71 children.
The figures quoted are from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Refugee Council and The Migration Observatory. For more information, please follow these links below:
Refugee Council – the truth about asylum
The Migration Observatory – migration to the UK
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Reading
Reading
Hughes, Gillian. “Finding a voice through ‘The Tree of Life’: A strength-based approach to mental health for refugee children and families in schools” Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2014, Vol 19(1) 139–153 © The Author(s) 2013
George Monibot – how do we get out of this mess? Textiles imagery
John Akomfrah, on his art and the sea
Migrants Rights Network call for an arts and migration Manifesto
Useful links
Paper People –
Refugee Resilience Collective – whose therapeutic work inspired the ‘Stitch a Tree’ Project
Counterpoint Arts – engaging with refugee and migrants experiences through the arts
For national statistics on asylum
The Migration Observatory – migration to the UK – for facts and public policy
Migrants Rights Network – weekly newsletter with up-to-date policy news and comment
Free Movement – very useful for updates and commentary on immigration and asylum law
International Organisation for Migration – they have interactive maps and inspiring campaigns
City of Sanctuary – a source of information as well as a network of hospitality
UNHCR – Guardians of the Refugee Convention. Resources on refugee law and protection issues as well as the latest figures and statistics
Refugee Council – Founded in 1951, the year of the Refugee Convention – the semi-official lobbying group on refugee issues in the UK.
For information about how to practically support people in Calais.
APPG on Refugees and APPG on Migrants
STAR Network – A network of students campaigning to improve the lives of refugees in the UK
Migrant Voice – giving voice to migrants
How to help
How to help
Do you have a spare room in your house? Consider hosting a refugee through Refugees At Home or Housing Justice, or as part of your community through the Community Sponsorship Programme.
Do you have some spare time?
Consider befriending a displaced person. Or you could visit people in detention.
Otherwise you might like to volunteer at a local support centre for migrants and refugees, such as these ones in London, Bristol, Southampton. There are many more groups across the country doing amazing work that you can join in with.
Want to learn a language?
Try Chatterbox’s language lessons.
Perhaps you could organise a fundraising event – a pub quiz, a clothes swap, a music event, or a sponsored swim, and donate the proceeds to a charity supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
