Refugee Week Wales
THANK YOU
This year, Refugee Week Wales 2011 was a huge success and we have many people to thank for this success. Therefore, the Welsh Refugee Council would like to say “Thank You” to all those who participated in this year’s activities.
African Community, Bridgett Keehan, Cardiff City Council, Cardiff Story, Cardiff”s Supernatural Band, Chapter, Duo Flex Caribbean Steel Pan, Gambia Arts and Cultural Exchange, Host British Community, Houses of Parliament, Jamaican Community , Kurdi Cymru, Llangattock CIW School, National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, New Direction of Congo, Pakistani Community, Persian Welsh Cultural Association , Radio Cardiff, Sherman Cymru, South Wales Police, St. Martin’s School, Sudanese Community, Trinidadian Community, Wrexham Council, Wrexham Refugee and Asylum Support Group, Ysgol Gynradd Mynach, Zimbabwe Newport Volunteer Group and all other communities who participated and supported without our knowledge.
We would be remiss if we did not mention and say thank you to the hard working staff members of the Welsh Refugee Council from all offices who took the time out to help in a number of ways. Well done guys.
HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
Refugee Week Wales 2012 – June 18th – 24th, 2012
Report by Home Affairs Select Committee on the UK Border Agency
In their report on the UK Government’s Legacy programmes, the Home Affairs Select Committee stated that there was an asylum “amnesty” attached to the programme.
Asylum “Amnesty – Myth
The Welsh Refugee Council is not in agreement with this assumption. Mike Lewis CEO of the Welsh Refugee Council says “it is important to note that the asylum process is not and should not be used as a route to migrating to the UK and the asylum figures reflect this”. Many of our clients have been through very rigorous “checks and balances” before being granted status with some of them waiting up to 10 years to get a decision. Also, in 2010, figures show around 25.5% of the claims were actually granted in the Initial Asylum Process.
Refugee and Asylum Seekers
Many asylum seekers and refugees face destitution during and after the asylum process and others simply cannot return to their countries. This is the real issue in the process. Pierre, a refugee says “Whatever that I have gained in the UK over the past years, I would like to bring back to my homeland as I believe it is of no use here”. The word amnesty refers to “a pardon” of some kind which in itself suggests that asylum seekers have to be pardoned for doing something wrong which is not the case.
Refugee Convention 1951
It is everyone’s duty as members of the global community to ensure that the Refugee Convention of 1951 is upheld when a person says that he or she is in fear for their life.
When a person is granted status, WRC believe that we have actively participated in saving that person’s life and this is one of our core values. The contributions of refugees are too many to mention and it is hoped that this view of the programme will not in any way hinder the process that everyone is treated as fairly as possible and on an individual basis.
