Its Refugee Week this week- 18-24 June- and our chance to celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK. It is also a time to focus on important refugee and asylum issues.
Amnesty International, Church Action on Povery and the Refugee Council are all supporters of the 'Still Human Still Here' campaign which is dedicated to highlighting the plight of refused asylum seekers who are being forced into abject povery in attempt to drive them out of the country. Not many people know about this issue and so Amnesty, CAP and the Refugee Council are organising sleep out events across the country to highlight the scandal of detitution of refused asylum seekers. There are over 15 events taking place across the country in different cities to support this cause. By taking part in the sleep out events you can help raise awareness amongst members of the local communities, the local medial and local MP's.
The event in Belfast is taking place at 9.30pm out side St. Ann's Cathedral. We will be sleeping out on the steps of St Anne’s cathedral from 9.30pm on Friday 22nd June. We will be joined by members of the Refugee Action Group, staff from the Law Centre and asylum seekers living in Belfast who may be facing this fate. Please come along and support this event, even if you have no desire to actually sleep out, an hour or so would raise the spirits of those who are sleeping out and show solidarity to the asylum seekers who will be joining us. Please also bring with you a jam jar with a tealight in it!!
