World Human Rights Day Thursday 10th December

*Human Rights Day is observed annually on 10th December throughout the world. It was on this day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Every year on 10th December, Human Rights Day marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights with its central theme: "All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms". Since its adoption in 1948, the Declaration has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for national and international efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

But no Human Rights for some UK children!

Immigration camps 'harmful for children'

Royal Colleges call on the Government to recognise rights of 'children in need'

The detention of hundreds of children in Britain's immigration camps is harmful and ministers should change the policy, medical experts will warn today. The call for a new approach to the treatment of young refugees and their families follows a report which found that their detention in the asylum system was linked to serious physical and psychological harm.

Today, the Royal Colleges of paediatricians, GPs and psychiatrists described children seeking asylum in the UK as among the most vulnerable in our community who required special and humane treatment.

Full article: By Robert Verkaik, The Independent, Thursday, 10 December 2009
 http://tinyurl.com/yamnt76
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EU Member States granted protection to 76,300 asylum seekers in 2008  
The largest groups of beneficiaries of protection status in the EU27 were citizens of Iraq (16,600 persons or 22% of the total number of persons granted protection status), Somalia (9,500 or 12%), Russia (7,400 or 10%), Afghanistan (5,000 or 7%) and Eritrea (4,600 or 6%).

Two thirds of all grants of protection status in the EU27 registered in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Sweden
Full break down of stats:
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszin113/EuroStats.html
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115,000 flee ethnic violence in north-western DRC
Raging ethnic violence in north-western Democratic Republic of Congo has now driven 115,000 people from their homes and forced aid agencies to put their work in the region on hold.
Full story: AlertNet, 09 Dec 2009
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Absconders from UK Immigration Detention, still at large

Of the 19 detainees who escaped from IRCs in 2006, 16 have not been recaptured.

Of the 90 detainees who escaped from IRCs in 2007, 71 have not been recaptured.

Of the 35 detainees who escaped from IRCs in 2008, 19 have not been recaptured.

In 2009, there were 4 escapes from IRCs . Two individuals have not been recaptured.
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*The Universal Declaration of Human Rights emphasises the rights to life, liberty, and security of person; to freedom from arbitrary arrest; to a fair trial; to be presumed innocent until proved guilty; to freedom from interference with the privacy of one's home and correspondence; to freedom of movement and residence; to asylum, nationality, and ownership of property; to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, opinion, and ex-pression; to association, peaceful assembly, and participation in government; to social security, work, rest, and a standard of living adequate for health and well-being; to education; and to participation in the social life of one's community.

Full article: By Eugene Moodubelle, Bellevision Media Network
 http://tinyurl.com/yfm232l

Photo: Bellevision Media Network