- BY Sarah Pinder
When You Don’t Exist
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“There are now more than 45 million refugees and internally displaced people – the highest level in nearly 20 years. Figures give only a glimpse of this enormous human tragedy. Every day, conflict tears apart the lives of thousands of families. They may be forced to leave loved ones behind or become separated in the chaos of war.”
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
It was World Refugee Day yesterday and it is currently Refugee Week in the UK. The film above is from Amnesty International’s campaign “When You Don’t Exist” for the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Europe and at its borders:
People move to Europe for different reasons. Some flee persecution or war. Others leave because of chronic poverty. They hope to find a safer, better future in Europe. But too often they find a different reality.
Europe is failing migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. Negative attitudes to asylum-seekers and migrants are widespread. European countries are stepping up measures to control migration. This can cause serious human rights violations. People on the move have their rights violated, often out of the public eye. They are effectively made invisible.
OUR VISION
We want the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers to be respected and effectively protected in Europe and along its borders.
OUR MISSION
We want to shine a light on the human rights violations suffered by migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers and help them to claim their rights. We want to hold to account those responsible for violating their rights.
We shall campaign to ensure that:
- People are treated with dignity at the borders. Their rights must be respected during border control and return operations, including the right to claim asylum.
- The right to liberty of migrants and asylum-seekers is respected. Immigration detention must only be as a measure of last resort and children must no longer be detained in Europe for the purpose of migration control.
- People on the move no longer suffer abuse because of their migration status. Those who are abused or exploited must have effective access to justice.
The film was directed by Jon Drever of Grain Media.
Interested in refugee law? You might like Colin's book, imaginatively called "Refugee Law" and published by Bristol University Press.
Communicating important legal concepts in an approachable way, this is an essential guide for students, lawyers and non-specialists alike.
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