9/9/15: The Refugee Crisis

Posted onAuthorHumanRightsAPPG

Refugee event SSO pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) organised this event in conjunction with Human Rights Watch to discuss how UK Parliamentarians and the UK Government could better address this issue.

The PHRG would like to thank Ann Clwyd MP, PHRG Chair, for chairing this event.

The speakers included:

  • David Mepham – UK Director, Human Rights Watch. (“DM”)
  • Tracy – Survivors Speak OUT Network at Freedom from Torture. (“T”)
  • Philippa Candler – Head of the Policy and Legal Support Unit, Bureau for Europe, (“PC”)
  • Angela Valenza – Legal Advisor, Delegation to the EU, NATO and Belgium, (AV)

The main points raised:

  • The debate has changed in recent weeks towards greater recognition of the powerful push factors forcing people to flee to Europe. (DM)
  • 4 states make up 60% of those making the journey to Europe: Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Somalia. In these countries grave human rights abuses and even crimes against humanity are being committed. (DM)
  • Tracy, a survivor of torture and former refugee who fled her country in search of protection, explained how desperate her situation became. She was forced into making a ‘do or die’ decision to flee. (T)
  • She described her highly difficult and dangerous journey to the UK and how the experience has had a deeply traumatising impact on her. (T)
  • The ICRC assesses, and responds to, the vulnerability of people along their journeys to Europe. These journeys have complex mental and physical impacts on people, with some experiencing further human rights abuses along the way. (AV)
  • The UK Government should take more refugees through resettlement schemes. Its proposal of 20,000 in the next 4 years is not sufficient. (DM)
  • The UK Government should strengthen emergency responses to those arriving in Europe, as well as stepping up efforts to meet their needs, through counselling, information and provision of essential items. (PC)
  • All EU states should participate in relocation mechanisms. Family reunification should also be improved and provision of different types of humanitarian visas (such as private sponsorship and scholarship programmes) should be explored. These efforts would help reduce reliance on people smugglers. (PC)
  • Although this is a crisis, if properly organised in and by Europe, it would be a manageable one. (PC)
  • The real solution to the problem is political, as the refugee situation will continue as long as people face violence and persecution in their home countries. (PC)

On 10 September, Ann Clwyd MP, PHRG Chair, asked the UK Government what further efforts it is making in response to the crisis. The PHRG will continue to use the Parliamentary platform to raise the human rights concerns presented by the refugee crisis where possible.