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National
Gathering Strengthening
the movement against Saturday
3 July, 10-5pm Entrance:
institutions £30; high waged £10; waged £3-£5; unwaged
£3; A
national gathering to bring together asylum seekers, refugees and
immigrants, with legal representatives, social workers, health and
other professionals, church people and other campaigners –
all
those who make up the movement to protect the rights of anyone
affected by immigration legislation and policies, including
anti-terrorism measures. Key
note speakers ·
Ian
Macdonald QC, leading authority on immigration law, author of standard
text “Macdonald's Immigration Law and Practice” used by
immigration practitioners, officials, adjudicators and judges. ·
Gareth
Peirce, of Birnberg Peirce & Co. Solicitors, has a distinguished
track record defending victims of miscarriages of justice, represents
people detained without charge under "anti-terrorism”
legislation Other speakers Cristel
Amiss, Black Women's Rape Action Project At
a time when millions of people are forced to move country to escape
the extreme poverty and devastation imposed by wars, the arms trade
and global exploitation, the British government is propagandising for
even more draconian legislation which, among other measures, would
make asylum seekers and their families destitute.
Mothers from the All African Women’s Group (asylum seekers
based at the Crossroads Women’s Centre) have already been threatened
with having their children taken from them because they have nowhere
to live. People claiming
asylum are routinely turned down by biased and unaccountable
adjudicators, despite the most compelling cases.
Now it is being proposed that asylum seekers work for nothing
– otherwise known as slavery. The
situation is more critical since organisations which previously
provided independent advice and support, have accepted Home Office
contracts to implement asylum legislation which limits the provision
of legal advice and housing, orders dispersal, and even requires them
to “co-operate with the deportation process”. The
government/media witch-hunt and the racism it encourages is unabated,
despite asylum seekers’ courageous efforts to tell the public the
truth about their situation, and grassroots campaigners’ efforts to
provide services in defence of basic human rights, starting with the
right to life. This determined and varied but largely hidden movement, beginning with the women who are central to it (a fact widely known but rarely acknowledged), has accumulated great skill, knowledge and insight. It can be even more effective if it is more visible and aware of its own successes. The conference will draw on the expertise of professionals whose thorough work and commitment to grassroots people are a great resource. We will look at the best way to combine the expertise of both the organiser and the professional in order to demand justice from the legal system and greater accountability from professionals, beginning with those in the media. This conference will discuss: How to combine legal work on individual cases with campaigning? What have we won in different places? What legal and other precedents have been achieved, how were they achieved, and how can they be used to win more? Can we evaluate the obstacles and problems we all face to see how we can effectively address them? We will have contributors from networks in Europe who face similar crises and are organising against them. We hope that the conference can also be a preparation for the European Social Forum so that these issues and concerns are integral to what is discussed there. Agenda 9.30 -10 am Registration, tea and coffee 10 -10.15 Opening remarks 10.15
-11.45
Session one:
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND SERVICES: what are the laws on
asylum and 12
- 1 pm
Session two: FORCED
TO FLEE: why do people leave homes and loved ones? 1 - 2pm Light lunch 2-3.15pm Session three: DEMANDING HUMAN RIGHTS: what are the anti-terrorism laws? how are they implemented? who is opposing them and how? 3.15 - 3.30 Refreshments 3.30 - 5.30 Session FOUR: STRENGTHENING OUR MOVEMENT: how are we working together as immigrants and asylum seekers, professionals and campaigners? how can we change the political climate?
We
will provide reasonably priced refreshments, sandwiches and samosas
for lunch. Contact:
Legal Action for Women, Crossroads Women's Centre |
