"The Silent Human Rights Crisis"

In an address to European Parliament, UN General Secretary Kofi Annan spoke out against the "dehumanising" policies towards immigrants. He highlighted the gross mistruths which governments and the mass media have fed to the European public, whilst taking time to point out the many human beings who travel through hell and high-water, simply for the chance of a fair opportunity. In his speech he also emphasised that many immigrants do not want to live apart from society, but "to integrate, while retaining their identity."

Mr. Annan's speech also included references to the horrific struggles many endure, and through which hundreds every year lose their lives, in order to attempt to enter European countries illegally. His speech has come at a time when many in Britain may be focused on other issues, but we must not forget the hugely important issue of refugees and immigrants. There is a real danger in Britain at the moment of this issue being overlooked, which would be a very dangerous situation. Conservative Party policy goes to far as to suggest imprisoning any asylum seekers in detention centres on a remote island whilst their claims are reviewed. Such horrific treatment of fellow human beings must not and cannot be allowed. Labour Party policy approaches the issue from a different angle, threatening the abduction of the children of failed asylum applicants. Whilst this has been defended by the government as the most humane option available in the process of removing failed applicants, we must bear in mind that this is a government which defends the sacrifice of more than 8,000 civilian lives as an act of great humanity and 'liberation'.

At the moment there appears to be no clear solution to the issue of confused immigration laws around Europe, but this does not mean that we can simply ignore the clear problem facing us. Whilst it is true that Britain cannot accept every asylum application it receives, there is a lot which can be done. Greater effort can be put into catching and imprisoning human traffickers, who profit from the cruel and illegal transportation of thousands of people every year. The government should dare to take a stand against the racist and xenophobic comments apparent in a great deal of national newspapers. Freedom of speech is one thing, but so is incitement of racial hatred. It must also be remembered that Britain can accommodate many more immigrants than it currently does.

The key point to remember is that there is no real 'us and them'. Asylum seekers and refugees are no less human than any British citizen. I find it very hard to believe that so many immigrants travel thousands of miles, enduring incredible dangers, in the hope of scrounging off benefits for the rest of their days, as would be suggested by certain newspapers. We are all people, the majority of whom simply want the chance to live in a society where we have a fair opportunity to earn an honest living, yet somewhere along the way this appears to have been forgotten.


For more information on refugees, visit:

www.star-network.org.uk

or

www.refugeecouncil.org.uk