This is a form for representatives of groups or organisations, or elected representatives, to register as a signatory to our joint statement of support for refugees and opposition to the Nationality and Borders Bill.
The joint statement has been drafted by a number of VCS organisations and faith groups based across Yorkshire. We hope that organisations, faith groups, charities, community groups, businesses, trade unions and political leaders from across Yorkshire & the Humber will join us in signing it.
The statement and updated signatories are published on the Asylum Matters website and used to secure media coverage.
For any questions, please contact
mary@asylummatters.org.
The statement can be read in full here:
As leaders, charities, communities, businesses and faith groups from Yorkshire, we are proud to be a place of welcome. The recent outpouring of support across our region for people fleeing Ukraine and Afghanistan is testament to this. Our spirit of care and solidarity with people seeking safety is stronger than ever, regardless of their method of travel.
The tragic loss of human life, to war, persecution, or in the Channel, is utterly devastating. Instead of allowing these avoidable deaths to continue, the UK must alter its course, showing global leadership by establishing a compassionate, humane protection system based on the right to seek asylum, safe routes and international cooperation. Only by honouring our obligations to protect refugees and ensuring safe routes to claim asylum will we prevent further tragedies from happening.
That is why we are deeply concerned about the Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill, which will have grave consequences for people seeking safety and for our society as a whole.
We are persuaded that the Nationality and Borders Bill is unlikely to stop people attempting to reach safety, but it will make their journeys more dangerous. It seeks to punish and criminalise people seeking safety outside the very limited resettlement schemes. It will prevent people who have fled violence and persecution from rebuilding their lives, make it nearly impossible to reunite families and prevent our communities from giving the welcome we are so proud to give. Together, we are striving to make our communities safer and stronger, but the measures in this legislation are likely to undermine our efforts by increasing destitution and inhibiting integration in our areas.
Yorkshire is a place that is strengthened by refugees and people seeking safety, this disregard for human life cannot happen in our name. We are united in opposing this anti-refugee bill, which has been condemned by the UNHCR, the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, Amnesty International, a coalition of over 200 immigration lawyers and many, many others. We call on the UK Government to withdraw these cruel and divisive proposals; and instead to protect people fleeing war and persecution.
