With all the buzz building up as we approach Refugee Week Scotland, it would be easy to assume that little else is going on in Scotland’s refugee communities. In fact, things are becoming just as exciting on the campaigning front as any rehearsal stage.
Still Human, Still Here
Oxford City Council recently became the latest local council to pass a motion supporting Still Human, Still Here – a campaign that calls for the rights of destitute asylum seekers. The motion declared that:
“As a result of exercising their human right of free speech in their own countries, individuals may have received death threats, suffered beatings or torture and threats to their family members, and have been forced then to abandon their homes, their country and all their possessions. Here in Britain, if their asylum claims are refused by the Home Office, they lose financial support and right of access to accommodation… [and] many are forced into homelessness on the street, and become entirely dependent on the generosity of others.”
Broad support
Passed with the unanimous support of the Oxford City Council, the motion was indicative of the broad political appeal of our campaign. At a time when migration (and by extension asylum) is quickly becoming a political football, knocked carelessly around to score cheap party points in national politics, local politicians are seeing the imperative human need to support society’s most vulnerable. Far from being a standout case, Oxford’s motion is merely one of several motions passed by councils across the UK.
Sheffield, known since 2007 as the UK’s first City of Sanctuary, has recently reiterated its commitment to assisting all those who seek refuge. Their City Council recently stated that “that if Sheffield’s proud declaration as the country’s first City of Sanctuary is to be meaningful and worthy of its fine words, we must act to improve [the destitution experienced by refused asylum seekers]” and goes on to urge the UK government to act.
Bristol City Council has also passed a motion calling on the UK Government to allow local councils to broaden the support they provide to asylum seekers. Again, it was met with the overwhelming support of 80 per cent of councillors from across the political spectrum.
Started in Scotland
Scottish Refugee Council, however, can take pride in that this particular wave of support for Still Human, Still Here began in our own backyard. Glasgow City Council set the dominoes in motion last summer when Councillor Susan Aitken’s motion amended by Councillor Matt Kerr “condemn[ed] the UKBA policy of destitution and the eviction of refused asylum seekers..” further declaring that “Glasgow City Council has a proud record of supporting asylum seekers and refugees, and will continue to do all in its power to welcome and enable them to play a full part in our city’s story.”
Speaking after the motion had passed our Head of Policy Gary Christie urged “…other councils across the UK to take the lead set by Glasgow in taking a stand against asylum destitution.” It appears in many places they have done just that.
