Monday, 16 November 2009

Refugee Archive Newsletter

Refugee Archive Newsletter

This newsletter is produced on a regular basis to help disseminate news and further information in relation to refugee and forced migration issues. The newsletter is produced by the Refugee Archives service at the University of East London.


News and Media Stories

Gordon Brown Immigration Speech

The Independent (13/11/09): Brown to get tough on student visas and foreign skilled workers

The Independent (13/11/09): Gordon Brown: New rules can make our immigration system tougher and fairer

The Guardian (12/11/09): Gordon Brown's immigration speech: what he said, and meant

The Guardian (12/11/09): Non-Europeans shut out from another 250,000 skilled jobs

The Guardian (12/11/09): Gordon Brown's immigration speech seen as first shot in election campaign

The Guardian (12/11/09): Gordon Brown to announce new migrant controls
The Guardian (11/11/09): Gordon Brown pledges new migrant limits

Australia and British Child Migrants
The Daily Telegraph (16/11/09): Australian PM Kevin Rudd issues apology to British child migrants
The Independent (16/11/09): After 50 years, the 'lost innocents' shipped from home win apology

The Daily Telegraph (14/11/09): Australia to say sorry to abused British child migrants

Other Refugee and Asylum Seeker News Stories

The Times (16/11/09): BNP leader to challenge Cabinet minister at general election

The Independent (16/11/09): Renouncing Islamism: To the brink and back again

The Guardian (12/11/09): The one-sided debate on asylum seekers

BBC News (12/11/09): African slavery apology 'needed'

IRR News (12/11/09): Cheryl Laws fights deportation

The Guardian (11/11/09): Citizens, do your civic duty

The Guardian (09/11/09): Welcome highlights British hypocrisy as well as French brutality

The Independent (09/11/09): Johnson: we need a debate on migration

The Independent (09/11/09): Leading article: The immigration debate we need

The Guardian (06/11/09): Is the British curry under threat?

The Daily Telegraph (06/11/09): Exeter is a lovely place for the BNP, says actress Emma Thompson

The Independent (06/11/09): Prosecutor arrives in Kenya on trail of war crimes

The Guardian (05/11/09): Disguising the detention of children

The Daily Telegraph (05/11/09): Radovan Karadzic trial delayed until March 2010

The Independent (05/11/09): Saved from the death squads: Darfuris given asylum in UK

The Guardian (05/11/09): British soldiers in Afghanistan helping to curb asylum seekers, claims minister

The Guardian (04/11/09): Why Johnson felt the need to say sorry

The Independent (04/11/09): Saved from the death squads: Darfuris given asylum in UK

The Independent (04/11/09): Zimbabwe to escape censure over abuses in diamond mines

New Reports and Publications


Two recent reports have recently been published by the mental health charity Mind charting the levels of support and provision of services available for refugees and asylum seekers. Further information on these two reports can be found on the Mind website at: http://www.mind.org.uk/news/2368_uk_puts_mental_health_of_refugees_and_asylum_seekers_at_risk

Alternatively, copies of the reports in PDF format are available via the links below:

A civilised society: mental health provision for refugees and asylum seekers in England and Wales

http://www.mind.org.uk/assets/0000/5695/refugee_report_2.pdf

(Source: IRR Weekly Digest 13 November)

Improving mental health support for refugee communities – an advocacy approach

http://www.mind.org.uk/assets/0000/5696/Refugee_Report_1.pdf

(Source: IRR Weekly Digest 13 November)

= = = = =

Dr. Nik Mai of the Institute for the Study of European Transformations (ISET) at London Metropolitan University has recently published a research report entitled Migrant workers in the UK sex industry. This publication reports on the recent ESTC funded research led by Dr. Mai and further details can be found on the ISET website at: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research-units/iset/projects/esrc-migrant-workers.cfm

The research report itself can be downloaded here: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/londonmet/fms/MRSite/Research/iset/Migrant%20Workers%20in%20the%20UK%20Sex%20Industry%20Policy-Relevant%20Findings2.pdf
(Source: ICAR Newsletter)

= = = = = =

A new report has been launched by the Welsh Assembly Government entitled “Refugees living in Wales: A survey of skills, experiences and barriers to inclusion” by Crawley, Heaven and Crimes, Tina, Centre for Migration Policy Research (CMPR), Swansea University
(Source: ICAR Newsletter)

= = = = = =

A report has been launched by the Innocenti Research Centre at UNICEF entitled “Children in Immigrant Families in Eight Affluent Countries: Their family, national and international context” by Hernandez, Donald J., Macartney, Suzanne et al.
A UK-based case study is also available, entitled: “The situation of children in immigrant families in the United Kingdom” by Crawley, Heaven. Innocenti Working Paper IWP-2009-18
(Source: ICAR Newsletter)


Posted in: News.

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Refugee Archive Newsletter

Refugee Archive Newsletter - Tuesday, 3 November 2009.

This newsletter is produced on a regular basis to help disseminate news and further information in relation to refugee and forced migration issues. The newsletter is produced by the Refugee Archives service at the University of East London.

News and Media Stories

Refugee and Asylum Seeker News Stories


The Times (03/11/09): Minister admits: we got it wrong on immigration

The Independent (03/11/09): We got it wrong on immigration, says Johnson

The Guardian (02/11/09): Alan Johnson: Labour has made mistakes on immigration

The Observer (01/11/09): Jim Goldberg: Open See

The Guardian (30/10/09): English tests for migrants will fail

The Guardian (30/11/09): Misery follows the 'jungle camp' raid

The Guardian (29/11/09): Protests greet plan to resume forced returns to Zimbabwe

The Guardian (29/10/09): Home Office offers failed asylum seekers cash to return to Zimbabwe

The New Statesman: Home is where the heartbreak is

Institute for Race Relations News (29/10/09): The new McCarthyism

The Daily Telegraph (29/10/09): BNP could be invited on Question Time yearly

The Daily Telegraph (29/10/09): Schools report 40,000 cases of racism a year

The Independent (29/10/09): Joan Smith: Make no mistake: sex trafficking is real

The Guardian (29/10/09): Asylum woes at the Home Office

Your Ashford News (28/10/09): Staff suspended at Millbank immigration centre

The Independent (28/10/09): Alaa Al-Aswany: When women are sinners in the eyes of extremists

The Guardian (26/10/09): Former Labour adviser denies immigration plot to undermine right

Child Trafficking

The Independent (03/11/09): Revealed: hidden misery of children trafficked to Britain

The Children’s Society (02/11/09): Professionals ‘missing opportunities’ to help hidden children exploited for sex and forced labour - See also the Hidden Children report detailed below.

BBC News: (02/11/09): UK detained 1,300 child migrants

Children and Young People Daily Bulletin (30/10/09): Child trafficking victims ignored by frontline workers

Radovan Karadzic

The Daily Telegraph (03/11/09): Radovan Karadzic regretted that not all Bosniam Muslims died at Srebrenica

The Times (28/10/09): Court hears Radovan Karadzic’s threats of Muslim slaughter

The Daily Telegraph (28/10/09): Radovan Karadzic wanted Bosnian Muslims wiped from the 'face of the earth'

The Independent (28/10/09): Caught by wiretap, Karadzic boasting about genocide plans

New Reports and Publications

Hidden Children – separated children at risk. A new report produced by The Children’s Society. Available online in PDF format on The Children’s Society website at:
http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/resources/documents/media/18843_full.pdf

Posted in: News.

Tuesday, 27 October 2009

Refugee Studies Newsletter

Refugee Archive Newsletter

This newsletter is produced on a regular basis to help disseminate news and further information in relation to refugee and forced migration issues. The newsletter is produced by the Refugee Archives service at the University of East London.

News and Media Stories


Launch of Latest Population Statistics


The Times (22/10/09): Numbers game of population figures is not that simple

The Guardian (21/10/09): Experts dispute claim that UK's population will hit 70m in 2029

The Guardian (21/10/09): Perpetuating population paranoia

The Guardian (21/10/09): UK population data: how fast is it increasing?

The Guardian (21/10/09): UK population growth to 70m challenged

The Daily Telegraph (21/10/09): Immigration will push British population to 70 million

The Conservative Party and Plans to scrap the Human Rights Act


The Daily Telegraph (22/10/09): Keir Starmer says Tory plans to scrap Human Rights Act would bring shame on Britain


Refugee and Asylum Seeker News Stories


The Guardian (23/10/09): Removal halted of girl who tried to kill herself

The Guardian (23/10/09): The Real threat of Immigration

IRR News (23/10/09): Returned Iraqi asylum seekers on hunger strike

The Independent (23/10/09): Immigration judges: 'Afghanistan is not in a state of war'

The Times (22/10/09): Faith schools are accused of using ‘inflammatory language’

The Independent (22/10/09): No way home: The tragedy of the Palestinian diaspora

The Guardian (21/10/09): Detained Nigerian girl found trying to strangle herself

The Guardian (21/10/09): Trafficking isn't just about prostitution

The Guardian (21/10/09): British-chartered plane takes Afghan migrants home

The Guardian (21/10/09): Stop imprisoning children now

The Guardian (21/10/09): Trafficking: we can learn from victims


BNP related stories.


The Guardian (24/10/09): Letters: Griffin grilled, roasted – and on the front page
The Daily Telegraph (24/10/09): The British National Party and BBC Question Time: an anatomy of a PR coup

The Daily Telegraph (23/10/09): BNP's Nick Griffin: 'I was victim of Question Time lynch mob'

The Guardian (23/10/09): Can the BNP be part of the democratic debate?

The Guardian (23/10/09): What BNP leader says and what the facts show

The Daily Telegraph (23/10/09): BNP on Question Time: Nick Griffin uses BBC appearance to attack Muslims and gays

The Times (23/10/09): Nick Griffin caught in TV's glare amid hail of criticism

The Independent (23/10/09): The BBC gave Griffin the oxygen of publicity. He choked

The Times (22/10/09): Times interview with Nick Griffin: ‘the BBC is stupid to let me appear'

The Independent (22/10/09): BBC 'will lose trust for giving airtime to BNP'

The Independent (22/10/09): Steve Richards: The enemies of democracy are very grateful for this free gift

The Daily Telegraph (22/10/09): BNP's Nick Griffin cleared to appear on Question Time

The Times (22/10/09): BNP: Thank you Auntie for giving us such a boost

The Times (21/10/09): BBC rejects demands to bar Nick Griffin

The Daily Telegraph (21/10/09): BNP: British generals should be hanged for war crimes

The Independent (21/10/09): Griffin branded 'despicable' for attacks on Army top brass

The Independent (20/10/09): BNP plays race card with attack on Question Time rivals

The Times (20/10/09): Generals join forces to resist 'hijacking' by BNP

BBC News (20/10/09): 'Extremists hijack' military name


Sri Lanka


BBC News (20/10/09): Abuses may hit EU-Sri Lanka ties


New Reports and Publications


New Statistics released by UNHCR:

Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialized Countries, First Half 2009: Statistical overview of asylum applications lodged in Europe and selected non-European countries.

Available at: www.unhcr.org/statistics

Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers has published a briefing paper by Jon Burnett and Fidelis Chebe on: 'Forced inactivity and barriers to participation among refused asylum seekers'.
Download briefing no. 12 at:
http://www.irr.org.uk/pdf2/PAFRAS_Briefing_Paper_12.pdf (pdf file 112kb)

(Source: Institute for Race Relations News – www.irr.org.uk/)

The Home Office has published: 'Update to the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking'.
Download the action plan at:
http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/humantrafficking004b.pdf (pdf file, 184kb)

(Source: Institute for Race Relations News – www.irr.org.uk/)

The IRR has published its report on the Prevent agenda: 'Spooked: how not to prevent violent extremism'.
Download the report at:
http://www.irr.org.uk/pdf2/spooked.pdf (pdf file, 1.1mb)

(Source: Institute for Race Relations News – www.irr.org.uk/)

Monday, 19 October 2009

Refugee Archive Newsletter

This newsletter is produced on a regular basis to help disseminate news and further information in relation to refugee and forced migration issues. The newsletter is produced by the Refugee Archives service at the University of East London.

News and Media Stories

The continuing debate over the BNP invitation to appear on BBC Question Time programme

BBC News (19/10/09) - BNP debate 'illegal', warns Hain: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8313680.stm

The Independent (19/10/09) - Last-ditch bid to prevent BNP appearance on Question Time: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lastditch-bid-to-prevent-bnp-appearance-on-question-time-1805226.html

The Telegraph (17/10/09) - Holocaust survivors will confront BNP on Question Time: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6360260/Holocaust-survivors-will-confront-BNP-on-Question-Time.html

The Independent (15/10/09) - Baroness Warsi to face BNP leader on 'Question Time': http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/baroness-warsi-to-face-bnp-leader-on-question-time-1802814.html

The Independent (14/10/09) - Johann Hari: The looming threat of terror that comes from the far right: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-the-looming-threat-of-terror-that-comes-from-the-far-right-1802167.html

The Times (14/10/09) - BBC ‘endangering public’ by inviting BNP leader to Question Time: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6873599.ece?&EMC-Bltn=DGMBLB

The Planned Visit of Dutch Politician Geert Wilders to Britain

BBC News (16/10/09) - Far-right Dutch MP heading to UK: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8308982.stm

The Guardian (14/10/09) - Should we let Geert Wilders in?: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/oct/14/geert-wilders-free-speech

The Daily Telegraph (13/10/09) - Dutch right-winger Geert Wilders wins challenge against British ban: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/netherlands/6317795/Dutch-right-winger-Geert-Wilders-wins-challenge-against-British-ban.html

The Guardian - Geert Wilders wins appeal against ban on travelling to UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/13/geert-wilders-wins-appeal-ban-uk

Asylum Seekers returning to Iraq

The Guardian (19/10/09) - My decade: The asylum seeker: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/17/my-decade-lukman-al-mayahy-asylum-seeker-interview

The Guardian (18/10/09) - Iraqis claim abuse and assault after failed deportation: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/18/iraq-deportees-asylum-seeker-claims

The Independent (19/10/09) - 'They gave me $100 and told me to fend for myself in Baghdad': http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/they-gave-me-100-and-told-me-to-fend-for-myself-in-baghdad-1805220.html

The Independent (19/10/09) - Border Agency to be quizzed over failed deportations - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/border-agency-to-be-quizzed-over-failed-deportations-1805221.html

The Guardian (16/10/09) - Iraqi army confronted UK deportation officials on Baghdad plane: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/16/unhcr-uk-baghdad-deportations

BBC News (16/10/09) - Iraq sends back UK asylum flight: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8310572.stm

The Guardian (16/10/09) - Court blocks six deportations to Baghdad: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/15/court-blocks-baghdad-deportations

The Independent (16/10/09) - Protests as asylum-seekers are returned to Iraq: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/protests-as-asylumseekers-are-returned-to-iraq-1803628.html

The Independent (14/10/09) - Forcing asylum-seekers to return to Iraq is 'inhumane': http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/forcing-asylumseekers-to-return-to-iraq-is-inhumane-1802252.html

The Guardian (13/10/09) - Thirty failed asylum seekers to be sent back to Iraq, says refugee group: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/13/iraqi-asylum-seekers-sent-back

Report on Children in Detention Centres*

The Independent (13/10/09) - Immigration centre's toll on children's mental health: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/immigration-centres-toll-on-childrens-mental-health-1801772.html

The Guardian (14/10/09) - Detention for children can never be justified: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/14/immigration

The Guardian (13/10/09) - Children made 'sick with fear' in UK immigration detention centres - http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/13/children-immigration-detention-health

*These news reports are based on a recently released journal article by Ann Lorek (et al.) in the international journal entitled Child Abuse and Neglect. Access to this journal should be possible for UEL staff and students and a full reference is given below:

Lorek, A. (et al.) (2009). The mental and physical health difficulties of children held within a British immigration detention center: A pilot study. Child Abuse & Neglect 33(9): 573-585.

Link: http://tinyurl.com/yf74ygs

New Reports and Publications

RSC Policy briefing

The Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, has launched its third

Policy Briefing on Statelessness, Protection and Equality by Professor

Brad K. Blitz (Human and Political Geography, Kingston University and

RSC Research Associate). This briefing provides a typology of stateless

people and contexts, reviews, relevant international law and

jurisprudence, and assesses the links between nationality and the

protection of human rights. It gives recommendations for reducing and

eliminating statelessness in the future.

The brief may be found at http://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/pub_policy.html

Events

Open See by Jim Goldberg

The Photographers' Gallery
16 - 18 Ramillies Street
London
W1F 7LW

16 October 2009 - 17 January 2010

Open See documents the experiences of people who travel from war torn, socially and economically devastated countries, to make new lives in Europe. They have left often violent, oppressive, poverty-stricken or AIDS ravaged communities, in search of stability and the promise of a better future. Originating from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, these ‘new Europeans’ have met violence and brutality as well as hope and liberation in their new homes.

Further information at: http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php?pxid=956

= = = = = =

Harrell Bond Lecture at the Refugee Studies Centre, Oxford

On 18 November 2009 (5pm), Jan Egeland will give the tenth annual

Harrell-Bond lecture, organised by the Refugee Studies Centre (Oxford

Department of International Development, University of Oxford) . Mr

Egeland is the former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian

Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. The lecture will be entitled

'Beyond blankets: in search of political deals and durable solutions for

the displaced'. He will chart recent changes which have led to the

enhanced provision of humanitarian relief for the world's displaced. He

will also reflect on the importance of gaining political agreements and

delivering effective security arrangements, arguing how these are

central to any long-term resolution to the refugee crisis.

The lecture will take place at the Oxford University Museum of Natural

History, Parks Road in Oxford (OX1 3TB

<http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=OX1%203PW>) and will be

followed by a drinks reception.

For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Wouter te Kloeze: wouter.tekloeze@qeh.ox.ac.uk <mailto:wouter.tekloeze@qeh.ox.ac.uk> or
+44 (0)1865 281726.

Thursday, 8 October 2009

Open See Exhibition

Jim Goldberg

Open See Exhibition

http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php?pxid=956

The Photographers' Gallery
16 - 18 Ramillies Street
London
W1F 7LW

16 October 2009 - 17 January 2010

Open See documents the experiences of people who travel from war torn, socially and economically devastated countries, to make new lives in Europe. They have left often violent, oppressive, poverty-stricken or AIDS ravaged communities, in search of stability and the promise of a better future. Originating from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, these ‘new Europeans’ have met violence and brutality as well as hope and liberation in their new homes.

Since 2003, Magnum photographer Jim Goldberg (b.1953, USA) has been photographing and collecting stories through a range of media: Polaroids, video, written text, ephemera, large and medium format photographs. The exhibition installation reflects his dynamic approach to documentary through dense displays of images, objects and text.

The Polaroids on show have often been defaced and written on by the people they portray. The words and images combine to tell intimate stories of past and present experiences. Faces and features are sometimes scratched out, coloured in, or marked in some way. Larger-scale colour photographs depicting landscapes from the subjects’ countries of origin appear both poetic and dystopic in equal measure. One image shows a young family walking along a sunlit road, while another is of a man standing on a vast rubbish tip holding a dead goat salvaged from the debris.

Part of an ongoing project by Goldberg, Open See confronts us with the realities of migration and the conditions for desiring escape.

This exhibition is presented in collaboration with Magnum Photos.

Refugee Studies Centre Policy Briefing

The Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, has launched its third
Policy Briefing on Statelessness, Protection and Equality by Professor
Brad K. Blitz (Human and Political Geography, Kingston University and
RSC Research Associate). This briefing provides a typology of stateless
people and contexts, reviews, relevant international law and
jurisprudence, and assesses the links between nationality and the
protection of human rights. It gives recommendations for reducing and
eliminating statelessness in the future.

The RSC Forced Migration Policy Briefings highlight the very best and
latest policy-relevant research findings from the fields of forced
migration and humanitarian studies. The RSC invites the submission of
policy briefings on all topics of relevance to policy and practice in
the fields of forced migration, refugee protection and humanitarian
intervention. Enquiries should be directed to rscpolicy@qeh.ox.ac.uk

The brief may be found at http://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/pub_policy.html

Harrell Bond Lecture

On 18 November 2009 (5pm), Jan Egeland will give the tenth annual
Harrell-Bond lecture, organised by the Refugee Studies Centre (Oxford
Department of International Development, University of Oxford) . Mr
Egeland is the former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. The lecture will be entitled
'Beyond blankets: in search of political deals and durable solutions for
the displaced'. He will chart recent changes which have led to the
enhanced provision of humanitarian relief for the world's displaced. He
will also reflect on the importance of gaining political agreements and
delivering effective security arrangements, arguing how these are
central to any long-term resolution to the refugee crisis.

The lecture will take place at the Oxford University Museum of Natural
History, Parks Road in Oxford (OX1 3TB
<http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=OX1%203PW>) and will be
followed by a drinks reception.

For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Wouter te Kloeze: wouter.tekloeze@qeh.ox.ac.uk wouter.tekloeze@qeh.ox.ac.uk> or
+44 (0)1865 281726.