Ireland's UNHCR World Refugee Awards 2005

by Sinn Féin Mon Jun 27, 2005 14:29

Published: 27 June, 2005

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún is today taking part in a conference at the Regional Assembly of Sicily in Palermo, Italy, on the subject of "Europe and its Migrants".

....

Speaking at the conference Ms de Brún said:

"On this the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, we have a duty to seek adequate responses to the challenge of migration that are based on dealing with the underlying factors of extreme poverty and conflict in the world. We must also understand that the number of immigrants in Europe is tiny compared to those elsewhere in the world and that the vast majority of those who flee to save their lives are still in the poor regions of the world. None of this warrants the security of the 'Fortress Europe' approach we see at present."

This evening Ms de Brún will travel with a delegation of MEPs from her group in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL) to the island of Lampedusa. Tomorrow she will visit a detention centre which has been criticized by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission on Refugees) and Amnesty International.

by wananchi Mon Jun 27, 2005 03:47

Presenting its findings in a former state torture chamber in central Nairobi, the Independent Medico-Legal Unit said that of 208 cases of alleged torture it investigated during 2004, 69 percent involved police officers.

"Torture is real in Kenya and is being meted out with impunity despite the illegality placed on it," it said.

by redjade Mon Jun 27, 2005 00:44

To mark refugee week, UNITED for Intercultural Action, the pan-European network against racism, has revealed details of 6,300 deaths of migrants and refugees at Europe's borders.

UNITED has monitored refugee deaths since 1993. With the help of their network of more than 560 anti-racist and refugee rights organisations they have documented the six-thousand deaths in the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, and in minefields between Turkey and Greece. Numerous refugees have also suffocated while being transported in trucks, or committed suicide while detained in Europe's detention centres.

Article:
http://www.irr.org.uk/2005/june/ha000019.html

UNITED for Intercultural Action
http://www.united.non-profit.nl/

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Seeking asylum is not a crime
http://www.irr.org.uk/2005/june/ha000018.html

A new report by Amnesty International (AI) calls on the government to 'justify the lawfulness of detention' of each and every single asylum seeker in the UK.
[....]

Key findings...
• Fast-track asylum-determination procedures are unjust where premised on detention;
• Detention is arbitrary because it is a lottery dependent on the availability of beds within the detention estate, rather than based on considerations of necessity, proportionality and appropriateness;
• Detained asylum seekers are often unable to pursue their asylum claim and/or challenge the lawfulness of their detention effectively because they are either poorly legally advised and represented, or because they have had no legal representation and advice at all;
• Remote locations of some centres mean that that are difficulties in maintaining contact with the outside world;
• Focus on forced returns has resulted in policy changes to allow for the enforced removal and detention of vulnerable groups whose removal from the UK was previously not enforced. (In October 2001, policy was changed to allow for longer periods of detention for children in families and in September 2004, it was announced that those aged 65 or over would not be exempt from attempts to remove them from the UK);
• A notable lack of transparency in relation to the exact number of those detained throughout the year, once their asylum claim has been dismissed and about the length of their detention;
• Home Office quarterly statistics belie the true scale of the detention of asylum seekers;
• Asylum seekers are not promptly given up-to-date, accurate, impartial, detailed and well-reasoned information regarding their asylum claims, their detention and about the legal avenues available to them to seek to regain their freedom.


Report:
Seeking asylum is not a crime:
Detention of people who have sought asylum
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR450152005

by redjade Sun Jun 26, 2005 17:25

Thank you very much for this reward, thank you to Aengus Ó Snodaigh, TD for nominating me. And thank you to my fellow members of Residents Against Racism who should be up here collecting the award. It is a rediculous, one person could not do it on their own - they are all hanging in the back there, where I would rather be there actually.

(audience laughter and applause)

There are many groups here who have done great work in the fields of education, interculturalism, and counciling for the torture victims - people who have been to hell and back.

Now, things have moved on, or rather, I'm afraid things have moved back. We are now integrating people for deportation. Since the new ruling - about the children born in Ireland [and have non-EU national parents] - other families who have been here for many years, as the last speaker was saying, [Abbey Okubadewjo] children have been schooled, families have been well integrated and part of their local communities are now all getting Deportation Orders. It's very, very sad.

I am sure that you all saw the RTE Prime Time program...

(Applause)

We had some input into that, we had spoken to these two women (pointing to the poster of Elizabeth and Iyabo posing with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern) and to Nketchi, from Castleblaney, several times because of a benefactor in Ireland - not me and not Residents Against Racism - has given them money to keep in touch by telephone.

These people had done everything that was right, they had not put a foot wrong. The children were doing well in school - they were photographed with the Taoiseach, they were part of the community. There are people in Castleblanney and in Athlone who wanted them to stay in Ireland. And it was a horrifying moment when they found out that they were going to be deported.

We only had gotten that picture totally by acident. I only met with Elizabeth and Iyabo twice and at the second time they showed me that photo - I said 'can I have a copy of it?' And the next thing we knew, they were gone. And in their case the children were left behind.

They did not voluntarily leave those children here - the children were in school. When the GNIB - The Garda National Immigration Beurau - rampaged around the school, they were actually between school and home. They were not left purposely.

Now, this is wrong, Its against Childrens' Rights and its against Human Rights. Nketchi, from Castleblaney, her's was an FGM case [Female Genital Mutilation] and was not properly investigated. Nketchi and her family should have been allowed to stay, again they were integrated members of their community.

There were other people such as Jasper Mordi, from Kilkenny, well integrated there - a man who had always been able to earn his living and make good connections and do good work for Ireland. Jasper had been mutilated.

Portia, from Dublin, came as an 'Aged-Out Minor' and now she is gone. Like many others. It's O.K. when there were the wonderful pupils from the school in Palmerstown who demonstrated with us about bringing Kunle back.

But there are dozens and dozens of other 'Kunles' who have not been brought back, who no one has contact with. What about them? They are equally as deserving.

And Nigeria is a particular case, because Nigerians have very little chance now, unless they have child born in Ireland before the 'correct date' - being allowed to stay here. It is a designated country.

It is not a 'safe country' - on the US State Department website [1 - 2] it is on a list countries not to visit, or if you do go there as a tourist stay in your luxury hotel. But seems O.K. for the GNIB to send men, women and children back there - families that have been here in Ireland for up to six years.

It's not O.K. - Nigeria is not democratic, it is designated as a 'safe country' because of Big Business interests. We all know about Shell Oil but there are other businesses too. This is about money and the Irish government being bought off.

Women in Nigeria have no rights. Before marriage, they belong to their elders of their father's family. And after marriage, to the elders of their husband's family. They have no rights at all - even over their own bodies.

Also, very unsafe countries, such as Congo and Angola, many people are getting Deportation Orders, too. We all know about Congo. Many victims of torture are from Angola and Congo, and they are being given Deportation Orders.

The time for tip-toeing around the Irish Government is over. I'm afraid we have a 'Bogus Minister of Justice' - he talks about 'Bogus Asylum Seekers' all the time - we must confront him and Bertie Ahern, who after all keeps him in the job. And it verges, in Michael McDowell's case, on incitement to racial hatred. He talks of 'Cock and Bull Stories,' he says if not for the United Nation's Human Rights rules he'd be out at the airport to send them back immediately.

We are having a national demonstration this Saturday at 12:30pm at the GPO in Dublin and we are marching to the Department of Justice.

We are entering a new phase of Anti-Racism activism in Ireland - it's got to be confrontational. If you play things by the book and keep your head down you are almost certain to be deported. You have got to make noise about it.

As happened with the Nigerian midwife that people may remember, Juliet. She was turned down on Humanitarian Grounds, she went right through the process, Juliet couldn't believe it. She was a campaigner in Nigeria against FGM, a midwife who worked in a hospital who had done wonderful work. Juliet was turned down.

We got her to stay through publicity and it is the only way to go. But its very hard work to fight each case individually, so we need more people involved.

Come along to our meetings, Residents Against Racism meets every Friday, 7pm at the Teachers' Club at Parnell Square - get active! Come and support and help us, all are welcome.

Take the Asylum Process away from politicians - this is the most important thing, this is our long term aim - do not allow these people to be used as a political football. Give it [the Asylum Process] to a body such as the Irish Human Rights Commission. We have to keep on fighting for that.

Thank you, very much.

[Applause]

by redjade Sun Jun 26, 2005 17:23

Jonson Godwin & Bukasa Mukalenga
Jonson and Bukasa helped set-up Foróige's first ever youth club for seperated children seeking asylum. Jonson and Bukasa have had equal input and therefore are receiving this award together. Foróige club caters for about 30 young boys who are housed in 'The Staircase' hostel for separated children.

Catherine Butler
Catherine has been working in Spirasi at the Centre for Care of Survivors of Torture (CCST) for three years. Although she has a very heavy work-load, Catherine manages to give each client her undivided attention. Catherine's support provides clients with the confidence to tackle difficult issues they encounter. Her comprehensive knowledge of the asylum process and her contactswith relevant bodies has meant that her clients are fully informed and understand the asylum process. Catherine's work involves coordinating the Outreach team, liaising with the government departments, statutory and other bodies.

by redjade Sun Jun 26, 2005 17:18

Abrahim Wahid
Abrahim Wahid arrived in Ireland as an unaccompanied minor in 2001 aged 16.

Abrahim Wahid acts as a conduit between new and existing communities contributing significantly to the integration of new members in Irish society.

Abrahim was a founding member of the Dún Laoghaire Town Football Club and this year he was elected chairman of the club. In 2004, he persuaded local Garda’ to provide transport and entry fee for two teams from hostel in Dún Laoghaire to participate in the SARI tournament - one of these teams went on to win the event.

Garda John Paul Durkan
John Paul is the Ethnic Liaison Officer for Dún Laoghaire and has worked to encourage the new communities in his area to get involved with local sporting activities. He has managed, trained and played with the local soccer club and on occasion has made the Garda minibus available to ferry people to different events, including SAFI festivals.

by redjade Sun Jun 26, 2005 17:16

Ed & Jean Ritchie
Ed and Jean Ritchie lived and worked in Nigeria for many years. In 1999, they moved to Killarney to serve as lay pastors for the Methodist Church. In 2000, Killarney Asylum Seekers Initiative (KASI) was set up as an inter-church response with the coming of asylum seekers to Killarney, as the churches felt that no support mechanism was put into place for asylum seekers.

Hlaleleni Karanda
Hlaleleni Karanda is the coordinator of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Campaign (ZSC) in Belfast, giving freely of her time and energy to raise awareness of the political situation in Zimbabwe.

In her role with ZSC, she provides support to refugee/asylum seekers as they seek to further their education, to participate more fully in society, to access local resources, to navigate what can be daunting bureaucracy and to identify ways of contributing to the richness of their local communities.

by redjade Sun Jun 26, 2005 17:13

Education & Youth

John Moyo John Moyo is an active member of 'One World Spirit' - refugees/asylum seekers support group in Dundalk, Co Louth, whose aim is to support non-nationals around issues of refugee status, social welfare issues and general information. John is also active in Integrating Ireland in the North East and Midlands region and is now the treasurer of the local support group.

Mary King
Mary King is the chairperson of the Dún Laoghaire Refugee Project. Mary has worked tirelessly with the project since its foundation and gives unstintingly of her time and energy. Mary is constantly available to refugees and asylum seekers to sort out problems and give support.

Mary has a particular interest in unaccompanied minors and 'aged out' minors who have just turned 18 years of age. She has also given support to young mothers struggling to establish themselves in society and looking after their young children at the same time.

by redjade Sun Jun 26, 2005 17:10

Community & Environment

Abbey Okubadewjo
Abbey is living in Longford and has been actively involved in trying to break down barriers between new and established communities. [....] One of her big accomplishments is the setting up of church offering services to meeting the needs of refugee/asylum seekers as well as extending an open invitation to the local community to anyone who would like to attend.

Rosanna Flynn
Rosanna has been a member of Residents Against Racism (RAR) since 1998. Residents Against Racism is a voluntary, self-funded and activist-based organisation which works on behalf of refugees, asylum seekers and all others who face all forms of racism or harassment.

Rosanna undertakes her work with commitment to equality and human rights - on the basis of respect, compassion and empathy. Rosanna has been an inspiration to others working in the immigration, anti-racism and human rights fields especially in relation to the deportation of unsuccessful asylum seekers.

Rosanna has been available around the clock by phone to those threatened with deportation and campaigns vigorously on their behalf.

by redjade Sun Jun 26, 2005 17:08

Arts & Culture

Atinuke Achioya
Atinuke Achioya is the secretary and contact person for the Louth African Women's Support Group based in Dundalk. The group's aims are based on interaction and support.

Bairbre Ní Chaoimh
Bairbre Ní Chaoimh is the Artistic Director of Calypso Productions. Calypso is unique having a brave two-stranded mission. Firstly, to make work to the highest international standards and secondly, to concentrate on work which has relevance to Irish and international issues. Previous productions higlighting refugee issues include The Asylum Ball, Farawayan: Guess Who's Coming to the Dinner and Mixing It on the Mountain.

by redjade Sun Jun 26, 2005 17:05

This year's awards have been organised by an inter-agency committee of the following organisations: African Refugee Network, Integrating Ireland, Dublin City Council, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI), CREATE and Spirasi.

The committee would like to acknowledge support and funding from the National Action Plan Against Racism, Dublin City Council and the Community Foundation for Ireland.