|
The world
belongs to all of us:
On Saturday 3 July 2004, a National Gathering hosted by Legal Action for Women, brought together asylum seekers, refugees, immigrants and anti-deportation campaigners, with legal representatives, social workers, health and other professionals. Approximately 200 people listened to many compelling speakers including women on the receiving end of brutal asylum laws and policies. Lively and focused discussions centred on ways of coming together to oppose them. Niki Adams, LAW, introduced the gathering by saying that it was aimed at bringing together people from different backgrounds and occupations, who are opposed to anyone being forced into Dickensian destitution or denied a fair trial, police protection and good legal representation. The keynote speaker in the morning session, "Fighting for justice and services", was Ian Macdonald QC, distinguished barrister and acknowledged expert on the immigration laws. Mr Macdonald gave a useful summary of the laws and unusually for a lawyer, acknowledged the importance of pressure by family and friends on the ability of people to get justice.
The audience responded warmly to the next speaker. Elsa Tesfamichael from the All African Women’s Group, described the many nationalities and backgrounds of the women who make up their group, how they came together at the Crossroads Women’s Centre because they couldn’t get help elsewhere. "In Africa we organised for survival and for change for ourselves and our families. The asylum rules are like a lottery. Women are suffering the same things but one will be accepted and the other will be refused. We do not accept this, all our lives are important." She listed all the victories where women have won their case and said, "We expect that when women win their cases they stay to help others." Reverend Canon Nicholas Sagovsky from Westminster Abbey spoke compellingly about the widespread support from church people for asylum seekers who are ready to provide clothing, visits and help with learning English but who often lack confidence and experience when it came to helping with legal cases. Other speakers included Cristel Amis (Black Women’s Rape Action Project), Siân Evans (Women Against Rape), Jean Lambert (Green Party MEP), Jennifer Dooley (homeopath) and Cari Mitchell from the International Prostitutes Collective who spoke of how the anti-trafficking legislation is used as an excuse to deport women. In the second session: "Forced to flee – why do people leave homes and loved ones?" Maggie Ronayne, author of "The Ilisu Dam: Displacement of Communities and Destruction of Culture", spoke of the fight against the Turkish dam and the impact of the dam on women and children in particular -- destroying communities and forcing people to leave their homes. Other speakers included the African Liberation Support Campaign and Josephine Apira, who spoke movingly of her experience in exile from Uganda.
Chairing the third session, "Demanding Human Rights", Nina Lopez, LAW, said that the "anti-terrorism" laws against Irish people had paved the way for today’s laws. Gareth Peirce solicitor, who has a distinguished track record of fighting miscarriages of justice, spoke about the suffering of people detained in Britain without trial who are almost all victims of torture themselves and how many are being driven into madness. Jabez Lam from Min Quan, the monitoring group in China Town spoke about the racism against Chinese people and how some of those who tried to help the cockle pickers in Morecombe Bay had themselves faced criminal charges. Everyone was riveted to their seats at a statement from the wife of a man detained in Belmarsh and there was general agreement that if the impact on wives, mothers and daughters were known there would be more public protest at the unjust treatment of detainees. Other speakers included Mukhtar Rani from the Peace and Human Rights Trust. The last session: "Strengthening our movement", boasted the largest panel. Dee Combes from the Liverpool Committee Against Destitution spoke about how volunteers clubbed together and equipped an abandoned building as a hostel for destitute asylum seekers but felt that established asylum charities sabotaged their efforts. Jonathon Fluxman, GP, from the Medical Practioners Union spoke about how doctors are insisting that health care is the right of everyone, whatever your status and wherever you’re from. Nushra Mapstone, British Association of Social Workers, described how social workers were refusing to co-operate with government plans to remove children from their parents. Anne Neale, Asylum from Rape Project, gave much appreciated practical advice on how to prevent a deportation or get someone out of detention. Other speakers included Sue Chapman, Merton Churches Asylum Seekers Group and Kay Chapman, No School Apartheid, who initiated a mother led campaign against the segregation of asylum seeking children from mainstream schools.
During the day, many women asylum seekers spoke, some for the first time, about their experiences fleeing persecution and the brutal treatment they have received since coming to Britain. Women described being left destitute often when in very poor health or still traumatised by the rape and other torture they suffered, having nothing to feed their children and of having to rely on strangers who take advantage of their vulnerability. A woman from Bangladesh spoke of being trapped with her young son in a violent marriage for fear of deportation if she left. Other women described how when their cases were rejected they publicised their situation by taking a delegation to parliament. They protested that women from the Great Lakes region in Africa are being returned to countries where there are mass killings and widespread rape of women and young girls. They complained about the UK government selling arms which fuel wars and deepen conflicts claiming the lives of thousands of people. A number of women asylum seekers described the horrendous, sometimes life-threatening racism they faced in areas outside London. They had reported it to the police, the council and to voluntary organisation but no one would take them seriously. The audience included many individuals and organisations from around the country. Many knew nothing about others working in the field and were delighted to be in touch. One frequent topic for discussion was how to combine legal cases with campaigning and how people in the community who have great expertise can demand accountability from professionals. All were impressed at the range of ideas, skills and experience that came out in the presentations and discussion and many described feeling invigorated to go back and renew their efforts to demand justice. Following the National Gathering, LAW organised for one of the women who had spoken out to be interviewed by The Guardian about the racism she faced in Middlesborough. The article got a huge response and was re-published in the Middlesborough Evening Gazette, which launched an anti-racist campaign inviting readers’ views. Of the hundreds of responses nearly all were supportive. Women there have said that the situation has improved as a result of the publicity and LAW’s support, and some have won their legal cases. |
