The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948; article 14) states that ‘Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy asylum in other countries free from persecution’. This is the bedrock of the New Scots Integration Strategy (NSIS) and the policies of all organisations working for the welfare of refugees and migrants. Article 14 promises to all economic, social, political and civic rights that underpin a life free from want, fear, the entitlement of all peoples at all times and in all places.
The City of Glasgow is the headquarters of the government-run Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) and non-governmental organisations such as the Refugee Survival Trust (RST).
SRC, RST and others commit to making article 14 a living reality for all refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, but efforts can be hindered by the agonisingly slow process of the immigration system.
While the Scottish Government in its NSIS document anticipates refugees, asylum seekers and migrants should ‘live in safe, welcoming and cohesive communities able to build and pursue full and independent lives from day one’, the UK Government Home Office procedures that authorise basic needs such as housing, healthcare, education and employment take several months and sometimes years.
Hence there is need for the Scottish Government and the Home Office to aim at similar outcomes within a specific time-frame to give people the right to statutory support.
The newly formed St Andrews & Edinburgh Archdiocese Refugee, Asylum Seekers and Migrant Working Group’s vision is ‘to enable our churches and nation to welcome each other through welcoming refugees’. This working group of the Caritas Justice and Peace network is committed to:
• Find ways and means to work with local parishes and other organisations to make life better for refugees
• To educate ourselves and others about the problems facing refugees, and to communicate accurate information which conveys a positive message of the gift of refugees to society
• To make links with other voluntary and public organisations with a parallel mission
And so, we are inviting parishes to consider funding a destitute asylum seeker or failed asylum seeker, identified by Refugee Survival Trust (https://www.rst.org.uk/) or other agencies.
We’re also suggesting each parish publicises and takes part in a befriending programme.
Parishes that run soup kitchens, food banks and clothes distribution programmes could combine them with regular meet-up sessions, for conversation and language development.
There are other opportunities, too - The Welcoming provides an online befriending programme (contact Life for further details Life@thewelcoming.org) The Refugee Survival Trust befriending programme could be extended to all dioceses. And it would help if the likes of St. Vincent de Paul volunteers could look out for asylum seekers in need, and invite them to parish events, and put them in touch with the online befriending programmes.
Parishes can also join local networks to show their support for refugees, such as the New Scots Connect Map and Forum.
For more information contact Agatha Kai-Kai (m.a.kaikai@ed.ac.uk )