Case details of nine deaths during forced deportations in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, France, Austria and the United Kingdom. The right to life, and the right to dignity – not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment, are recognised as the most fundamental of all human rights. As such, they are at the heart
Asylum: the end of the road
As new immigration laws come into force, human rights and immigration barrister, Frances Webber, gives her view on recent developments. Within days of the 2002 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act coming into force on 7 November, and even before it was published, the first Czech and Slovak Roma were being bundled out of the country
Prejudice and contempt: terror trial by media
On 17 November, the Sunday Times claimed on its front page that MI5 had foiled a poison-gas attack on London’s underground. Six men had several days earlier been arrested under the Terrorism Act (2000). The report alleged that the men were part of an Al-Qaeda network operating in Europe and had been planning to build
Asians do mix, say researchers
The idea that Asians ‘self-segregate’ has been challenged by researchers investigating housing in Leeds and Bradford. Since the riots in Oldham, Burnley, Leeds and Bradford, during the summer of 2001, a number of reports and commentators have promoted the notion of Asian ‘self-segregation’. What began as a racial myth – ‘Asians don’t mix’ – became
Sweatships: what it’s really like to work on board cruise ships
This little booklet written by Celia Mather and published by the charity War on Want and the International Transport Workers’ Federation tells the horrific story that lies behind the luxury facade of the holiday cruise ships. It is a tale reminiscent of the bad old days of the British Empire. Low wages and long hours
EU to make all refugees temporary?
The Council of the European Union is discussing the definition of ‘refugee/subsidiary protection’ and could put the status of all future refugees under permanent review. Secret discussions among ministers and civil servants in the Council of the European Union (the 15 EU governments) about the Directive proposed by the European Commission on the definition of
Home Office research heralds ‘managed migration’ policy
The UK government has taken a step forward in its plans to establish a ‘properly managed’ scheme for economic migration to the UK. Announcing new research on the role of foreign-born workers in the British labour market, the Home Office has claimed that migrant workers do not take away jobs from the resident population if
Tough questions at Climbie meeting
Norman Tutt, Director of Social Services at Ealing Council, faced hostile questioning at a public meeting organised to discuss the public inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié. Around fifty people attended the meeting held at Ealing Town Hall on 9 December 2002, which was preceded by a vigil on Ealing Broadway. The event was
The contours of global racism
The following is the closing speech delivered by Dr A Sivanandan at the conference, Crossing Borders: the legacy of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, organised by Runnymede, JCWI, UKREN, 1990 Trust, London European Research Centre and the London Metropolitan University on 15/16 November 2002. Racism never stands still. It changes shape, size, contours, purpose, function,
Racial violence
Every day on the streets of the UK, in playgrounds, classrooms, shops, at work, minority ethnic people are racially harassed. This can take any form, from a racist remark to a physical attack. For some people, particularly those who move to a new area and are isolated from friends and family, persistent harassment can be