Principle 12: We defend the fundamental human dignity of all migrants and refugees, regardless of their legal status, including through policies providing access to decent accommodation, healthcare, and childhood education, as well as facilitating family reunification.
There are a number of campaigns you can get involved with, from signing petitions and showing solidarity across social media, to collective action within communities.
We have compiled a list of campaigns, and will endeavour to review and update the list with new campaigns and petitions periodically.
For further information on any of the campaigns, kindly see the individual organisation websites, where you will also find downloadable resource kits.
Current Campaigns:
The right to work: #Lifttheban
A coalition of charities, trade unions, businesses, faith groups and think tanks have been campaigning since 2018 to overturn the Government’s ban on people seeking asylum being able to work. In 2020, they presented a petition to the Home Office, with over 180,000 signatures. In 2022, it was found that 81% of the public support the right to work for people seeking asylum in the UK.
Further information on how to get involved, including a resource pack, can be found on the Refugee Action website: https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/lift-the-ban/
The right to family reunification: #FamiliesTogether
The Families Together Coalition is made up of over 50 organisations who are advocating for a change to the UK’s family reunification laws which are keeping family members apart and in particular depriving child refugees of the ability to sponsor their immediate family members to join them.
Further information on the work of the coalition and access to a campaign pack can be found on their website: https://familiestogether.uk/
The right to human dignity: #Togetherwithrefugees
Together with Refugees, a coalition of organisations calling for a fair and compassionate approach to supporting refugees. They have been campaigning against the Rwanda plan and lats year had a campaign ‘Fill the Sies With Hope’, for which there was a day of action on which groups across the country made and sent orange heart shaped paper planes with messages, to the Prime Minister.
They are now calling on people to share an orange heart across social media and use the hashtags #WhoWeAre and #TogetherWithRefugees to show support and raise awareness of their work.
Graphics and messages for sharing can be found on their website: https://togetherwithrefugees.org.uk/get-involved/show-support/?_gl=1*cw5c2i*_ga*NDYxMTQ3OTI0LjE2NzU2OTg4ODI.*_up*MQ..
Refugee Council: Fair & Humane Asylum System
Refugee Council is campaigning for an asylum system in the UK which treats everybody with fairness and humanity, regardless of how they have arrived here. They have a 6 point plan and want you to sign up to get involved. Read more about it at: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/support-us/campaign-for-us/a-fair-and-humane-asylum-system/https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/support-us/campaign-for-us/a-fair-and-humane-asylum-system/
Safe Passage: Call For Safe Routes
Safe Passage advocates for safe routes, working with child refugees to reunite them with their families. They are campaigning for the Government to open safe routes and save lives. Join the campaign at: https://act.safepassage.org.uk/tell-government-refugees-need-routes-safety
Praxis: Stop the Waiting
Praxis is a leading charity providing expert support to migrants and refugees. At this time when the Government is reviewing its immigration policies, Praxis is calling on the Government to change the rules to reduce waiting times and provide a sense of security for those forced to spend thousands of pounds on renewing visas and navigating a complicated visa application process.
You can add your name to the petition at: https://act.praxis.org.uk/stop-waiting
Praxis also encourage you to engage with your MP and avocate for migrant rights. YOu can download a How-To guide on their site: https://act.praxis.org.uk/download-guide-how-engage-your-mp-about-migrant-rights
Anti-slavery International: Business and Human Rights – help stop the abuse
Anti-slavery International have worked for over 180 years to change the systems that enable slavery, today challenging modern slavery in all forms including human trafficking, child slavery and forced labour.
If you believe that products in the UK shouldn’t be made with forced labour, join them in their urgent call for change: https://www.antislavery.org/take-action/campaigns/business-human-rights-and-environment/
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Image: Prayer vigil for refugees outside Westminster Cathedral
Credit: Mazur / CBCEW, Catholic Church England & Wales, Flickr