my short debate/ human rights of asylum seekers
Posted on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 5:02pm
2 responses
I’m in a celebratory mood today. I never win anything, but today I’ve won the ballot for the short debate at the National Assembly that will take place next Wednesday at 6pm. I have quite a few ideas, but feel free to lobby me until end of play tomorrow and I will consider your ideas. Given that my efforts alongside other Plaid AMs failed in getting any time for government backbench debates in the Assembly, this is really one of the few times in the day where we have a chance to put forward our agenda, on our terms. So no pressure then!
On a not so positive note, it was disheartening to learn today that George William and his family, based in Swansea but originally from Pakistan, have been detained in Yarlswood detention Centre yesterday for a second time. I have tried to help the family in their fight against deportation and their sons, who were detained last year, and I hope that I can help this time again. I met the family at their home, and the children were doing so well at school, so it is unfortunate that they have been lifted from the community so abruptly. I’ve asked Brian Gibbons as Social Justice Minister to look in to this case- specifically the areas where we can make a difference- in education and health, and this in the context that the children are now unable to receive education, and that their rights are quite clearly being undermined by being detained in this way.
I will of course contact the Home Office, but this is one discussion that I am really keen to have on the new cross party group on human rights. I often feel frustrated that we cannot do more to help asylum seekers, especially when they are detained, but if AMs come together to discuss common themes, I think we can strengthen our campaigning most definitely.
If you want to support the family, then please write to Alan Johnson at the Home Office , 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF. Will he do anything differently on this agenda to his predecessor, I wonder??
I am on the show AM PM tomorrow briefly- talking about the last meeting of the All Wales Convention, and a referendum on a Parliament for Wales. ITV Wales are also doing a piece on men with eating disorders in relation to over exercising, to which I hope to contribute. So watch this space!
Bethan, I’m so glad that this has been taken up at Assembly level, even if it is not a devolved issue. As someone who volunteered with Swansea Bay Assylum Seekers Support Group for a short while last year, I was horrified at the manner in which we (as in the UK) treat these most vulnerable of people. Moverover, I read the Evening Post’s coverage of this situation on their website today and was disgusted by the comments made by some of the contributors. ‘Ordinary’ people have no idea what assylum seekers have to go through, and how long they are forced to wait for a decision which sometimes means the difference between life and death for them. We need to educate people about this, and having our elected representatives raise these issues at the highest levels will certainly help.
Pretty cool post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say
that I have really liked reading your blog posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you post again soon!