Refugees Crossing the Mediterranean to Get Into Europe

Immigration is not only a matter of numbers; it is about individuals and their safety. States have a legal and moral obligation to protect their needs and make sure everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Thank you, Dee, for this informative article which gives us some insight into how European Member States are failing to meet basic human rights obligations.

It is estimated that in the past 20 years, up to 20,000 migrants and refugees have died as they crossed the Mediterranean Sea trying to get into Europe. According to the UNHCR, there have been 500 deaths this year alone. The EU border agency claims that there have been 42,000 attempted crossings so far in 2014. Such are the numbers using this route that the UNHCR is now considering the possibility of holding-centres for refugees outside Europe in countries such as Sudan or Libya.

Your rights as a Refugee or Asylum seeker: diversity matters!

Thanks to David for recommending us this informative article. It brilliantly outlines the various entitlements refugees and asylum seekers have in respect to working and studying in the UK. You will also find some useful tips for your job search, if you are entitled to work in the UK, and how to best promote yourself in the competitive job market

Finding positive employers for refugees and asylum seekers

The rights of refugee students and graduates are very different to the rights of asylum-seeking students and graduates so it's important to know your status.

Practical challenges to integration

Thank you, Dee, for this informative and up-to-date account of some of the practical challenges faced by new refugees. The report cited highlights the crucial role played by the government in supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Definitely worth a read in order to better understand the current situation.

The Refugee Integration and Employment Service (RIES) was one of the many public services cut by the coalition government’s austerity measures in 2011. The RIES provided much-needed integration, employment and mentoring services for between 6–12 months for those with new refugee status. The loss of this vital service along with cuts to grassroots organizations which support refugees has meant that those with newly-granted refugee status now lack crucial assistance when they are at their most vulnerable — both during and immediately following the 28-day grace period.

The Movers and Shakers!

Click here to check out this fascinating interactive graphic charting estimated global international migration flows between and within regions in five-year increments from 1990-2010.

Asylum Housing Not Up to Standard, say MP's

A report by the Commons committee has concluded that the asylum housing provided by the Home Office's contracts was not up to standard.  Committee chairwoman Margaret Hodge said that the scheme was "poorly planned and badly managed" and that "The standard of the accommodation provided has been unacceptably poor for a very fragile group of individuals and families." Click here to read more about the report. 

The Challenges of Supporting Oneself as a Refugee

Thanks to David for sharing these three very informative articles regarding refugees' work status and benefits allowance, highlighting the limitations they face as they try to establish themselves in their new lives.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/maurice-wren/refugee-council_b_5074999.html

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/08/professional-refugees-lawyers-doctors-minimum-wage-uk

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/09/asylum-seeker-subsistence-payments-defeat-government-theresa-may

BBC: Amnesty says refugees face rising dangers

Read the full article here. 

A Movie Recommendation From Zrinka

Zrinka, our fearless Executive Director, encourages us all to see Into the Fire, a crowd-released film about refugees and asylum seekers in Athens. 

We have embedded the film for you to watch right here. For more information about it, read the description below, taken from the website: 


A hard hitting documentary which shows the plight of refugees and migrants in recession hit Athens, Into The Fire is a film with a difference. Watch Trailer.

Shot and edited with sensitivity and compassion, it doesn’t pull its punches and makes for harrowing viewing in parts. It is the product of crowd funding, dedication, self-sacrifice and a burning sense of justice.

In times of severe austerity things look bleak for Greek people, but they’re far worse for those who have recently arrived. Without housing, legal papers or support, migrants in Greece are faced with increasing and often violent racism at the hands of the growing Nazi party Golden Dawn and the police in Athens. Many are trapped by EU laws and legislation of other EU countries meaning they’d be returned to Greece if they managed to get to another member state, they are desperate to leave the country. 

This film gives incredible insights to the reality faced by people who simply want to lead peaceful, normal lives.

Permission to Work for Refugees in the UK

Thank you to Transitions for providing us with the following guidelines regarding refugees' rights to work in the UK.  We hope that you will find this information useful.

Refugees do not require a visa.  Refugees have been forced to leave their countries due to a fear of persecution and have been offered protection and resettlement in the UK.  They are able to work in the UK without any restrictions (page 5 of guide below). 

Refugees are not economic migrants and are not subject to the points-based system where migrants are required to meet particular skill and experience levels and employers are given sponsorship duties. 

Engage to Change: Integration - Where next?

You are invited to attend the Migrant and Refugee Communities Forum's

Engage to Change: Integration – Where next?

Thursday, May 24, 2012, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Our key note speaker is Don Flynn, Director of Migrants Rights Network.

The government’s Creating the Conditions for Integration strategy transfers responsibility for integration to local areas, without refering to any models or guidance about what successful integration looks like, whilst also hijacking integration as yet another excuse to speak about security and extremism. Resources, of course are not attached to any of it. It was also disappointing for those of us working on the integration of new citizens that the government completely ignored our efforts, expertise and contributions.

London Elections 2012

Do you care about the next Mayor of London? Or do you perceive local politics as a distant sphere with little connection to your everyday life?

On May 3, 2012 Londoners aged 18 or over will elect the new Mayor of this town and the 25 members of the London Assembly. The Mayor’s job ranges from housing, transport, environment, policing, health, culture, (emergency) planning and development, all the way to economic development and regeneration. The Assembly Members hold the Mayor accountable by examining his/her decisions and making sure the Mayor delivers given promises to Londoners.

In order to vote you need to register where you live before April 18 but also have to know where, when and how to vote. Answers to these questions can be found at the London Elects webpage. 

However, a more important question is why vote in the first place? The answer to that question was given by Kristina Hemon in a new post: Why should migrants care about the Mayor of London?

Still, if you have any doubts, then join us on March 27 at MRCF and find out more how the Mayor can improve the quality of our lives and communities, but also how you can influence this year’s elections!

Let your voice be heard!