NJPN: Call for 'a fair and humane asylum system'

Bishop Paul at Dover memorial to refugees drowned in Channel. Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk

The National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) has joined Bishop Paul McAleenan, the lead bishop for migrants and refugees in England and Wales, and the Jesuit Refugee Service UK in calling for "a fair and humane asylum system" in the UK.

Speaking on Monday evening at an NJPN meeting, Bishop McAleenan said he hoped Labour government would have had a different attitude to refugees than the former government, but lamented that, "Labour has done nothing to address our demand for safe routes." Speaking from his experience of visiting refugees sleeping rough in Calais while trying to travel to England, and others detained at the much-criticised Napier Barracks asylum accommodation in Kent, he called for more distinction between victims and the smuggling gangs who exploit them.

He recommended Justice and Peace activists to challenge the proposed Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which, according to the Jesuit Refugee Service, "misses a vital opportunity to create a fair and humane asylum system." The UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights is currently conducting legislative scrutiny of the Bill to assess its compatibility with international and domestic human rights standards. Evidence can be submitted up to 11 April. Bishop McAleenan said the new Bill "even talks about confiscating devices, such as mobile phones, which will deny refugees access to family, friends and solicitors." He urged NJPN to continue supporting refugees and advocate on their behalf, and to be aware of misinformation and rhetoric which criminalises people seeking asylum.

The National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) hosted its second event to mark Jubilee Year 2025 on 7 April. The online meeting, entitled 'Opening Doors to Refugees and Asylum Seekers,' attracted more than 100 participants from around England and Wales... and further afield. Sr Imelda Poole of Renate, which tackles human trafficking and modern slavery, joined from Albania. The NJPN Chair Anne Peacey welcomed participants and gave the context of the NJPN Jubilee Year programme. Brian O'Toole, of the Presentation Sisters Interprovincial Justice Desk, led working through the agenda.

During the meeting, Sophie Cartwright and Victoria Firth of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS UK) called for "a person-centred asylum system," one which sees refugees "as human beings with a story." Action points mentioned were the Monthly Prayer Vigil for Migrants at the Home Office in London, volunteering and offering friendship to JRS friends, offering to host refugees as an individual or a parish. Fundraising is important and Education, particularly finding out why people leave their countries or are internally displaced. Championing the refugee voice is very important, they said. Earlier this week, more than 100 refugee charities - among them the Jesuit Refugee Service - signed an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for an end to "hostile politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language."

Azah Hasan, Coordinator of the Justice and Peace Refugee Project in Newcastle, and Liz Archibald of NJPN told moving stories of refugee friends who suffered terrible hardships trying to seek asylum in Britain. One man had slept in bushes in Calais for two months, a woman from an African country spent seven years "in limbo" in Britain. All spoke of the importance of kindness and help from Church groups. Every month, Justice and Peace people in Newcastle hold a monthly interfaith vigil at the gates of a new detention centre near Newcastle.

The next NJPN Jubilee event: 'Opening Doors to a Sustainable World for Future Generations' on Saturday 10 May. This will be an in-person event and places are limited.

Invitation to sign up for the NJPN National Annual conference in Swanwick - 'Opening Doors to a Just Peace' 25 - 27 July

A poem by Benjamin Zephaniah

We Refugees

I come from a musical place

Where they shoot me for my song

And my brother has been tortured

By my brother in my land.

I come from a beautiful place

Where they hate my shade of skin

They don't like the way I pray

And they ban free poetry.

I come from a beautiful place

Where girls cannot go to school

There you are told what to believe

And even young boys must grow beards.

I come from a great old forest

I think it is now a field

And the people I once knew

Are not there now.

We can all be refugees

Nobody is safe,

All it takes is a mad leader

Or no rain to bring forth food,

We can all be refugees

We can all be told to go,

We can be hated by someone

For being someone.

I come from a beautiful place

Where the valley floods each year

And each year the hurricane tells us

That we must keep moving on.

I come from an ancient place

All my family were born there

And I would like to go there

But I really want to live.

I come from a sunny, sandy place

Where tourists go to darken skin

And dealers like to sell guns there

I just can't tell you what's the price.

I am told I have no country now

I am told I am a lie

I am told that modern history books

May forget my name.

We can all be refugees

Sometimes it only takes a day,

Sometimes it only takes a handshake

Or a paper that is signed.

We all came from refugees

Nobody simply just appeared,

Nobody's here without a struggle,

And why should we live in fear

Of the weather or the troubles?

We all came here from somewhere.

LINK

National Justice and Peace Network: www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/