Protection for asylum-seekers
Introduction
Income security
Protection for asylum-seekers
Gender and race equality
Public attitudes to poverty
Giving people living in poverty a voice
All over the world Oxfam works with people affected by crisis. In the UK this means helping those who are fleeing persecution abroad and seeking asylum here. Our work with asylum-seekers and refugees concentrates on two areas: ensuring the government meets its obligations, and helping refugees overcome prejudice.
International law states that countries should offer asylum to people fleeing persecution and that no one should be sent back to a country where they will face danger. However, the UK government sometimes tries to stop people seeking safety in the UK and even returns asylum-seekers to dangerous situations. We campaign to ensure that the UK meets its international obligations.
We also work with asylum-seekers to help them overcome the prejudice they may face in the UK. For instance we run projects that bring asylum-seekers together with their host communities to break down the stereotypes the groups have of each other, and help the communities to understand each other better.
Case study: The short video Primary is an innovative production by the Glasgow-based media co-op, funded by the Oxfam. media co-op is a non-profit co-operative of professional film makers, who trained young asylum seekers to use video cameras to film and interview their own classmates. Read more
Positive images of asylum
In Scotland, the Oxfam-funded Asylum Positive Images Network (APIN), trains and supports asylum-seekers in Scotland to act as spokespeople in the media – and to speak to journalism students and other groups about their experiences.
Talking about why they were forced to leave their homes, and the difficulties they encounter in the UK – not being able to work, living on reduced benefits, and the threat of deportation – helps the media and public understand the situation of asylum-seekers and combats negative attitudes towards them.
