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> Contact your MP about the unaccompanied children in Calais
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Contact your MP about the unaccompanied children in Calais
General Secretary Lynn Green is encouraging all our churches to write to their MP about the unaccompanied children in the Calais jungle that have a legal right to be in this country.
The following template can be used to help write your response. While commending the text that is offered, letters have greater impact if they are uniquely written. While it is better to send a standard letter than do nothing, those who feel able to do so are encouraged to compose their own letter.
Dear
I’m writing with urgency in light of the French government’s announcement of the impending demolition of the camp at Calais. The UK government needs to take urgent action to reunite children in Calais eligible for family reunification under Dublin 3 and to implement the Dubs Amendment (now part of the Immigration Bill passed in May). There are over 1000 unaccompanied minors in the Calais camp, 400 of whom have a legal right to be relocated in Britain either through Dublin 3 or Immigration Law. Many are part way through the process and are in danger of being lost through the eviction of the camp.
Despite the UK government’s announcement last May that they would take in additional minors, Home Office figures show that the only children who have arrived so far were actually processed through the diligent work of Safe Passage and Citizens UK. None have yet been admitted outside this system. There is no imaginable reason for this total lack of government action which requires a non-government organisation to enable the UK to implement its own laws.
During the last evictions over 100 children went missing and reports from the ground suggest that vulnerable, fearful children have already started to leave the camp. Throughout Europe over 10,000 have gone missing and Save the Children report that vast numbers are falling into the hands of child traffickers and being forced into prostitution and slavery. UK Anti-Slavery Commissioner Kevin Hyland, who has visited the Calais camp, recognises these risks and has recommended that all eligible children are processed as quickly as possible.
Britain has a proud tradition of helping children who are fleeing war and persecution. We allowed 10,000 children into the country without visas through the Kindertransport during WWll. As Europe faces the worst humanitarian crisis in recent history, we must not lose our sense of humanity as a country and must respond quicker and more decisively for these children.
I urge you to support this call for the UK to take action on this matter and to urgently expedite the transfer of all eligible children to the UK before the camp is demolished by the end of October 2016.
I would be grateful to be updated on any action you do take. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
Send the letter to your MP via
https://www.writetothem.com
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Statement on closure of 'Dubs' scheme for refugee children
Lynn Green joins leaders of four churches in appealing to the Government to reconsider its decision to shut down the Dubs scheme, a programme for the safe re-settlement of unaccompanied minors seeking refuge in the United Kingdom
Read more
Churches demand action on Aleppo
The Baptist Union of Great Britain has joined other denominations to release a statement calling upon the Syrian and Russian Governments and other forces to stop the bombardment of Aleppo
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Contact your MP about the unaccompanied children in Calais
Read more
Lynn Green calls for urgent action to protect vulnerable children
Lynn Green calls for urgent action to protect vulnerable children
Read more
Commitment to refugee/asylum actions
Exploring the current refugee situation in our country and our world was a key aspect for all involved at the 2016 Baptist Assembly - and resulted in a shared commitment
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Lynn Green urges churches to action on Calais
Following her recent visit to Calais, Lynn encourages Baptists to speak up for justice for refugees
Read more
Refugee Crisis
Statements
Statement on closure of 'Dubs' scheme for refugee children
Posted:
10/02/2017
Churches demand action on Aleppo
Posted:
20/10/2016
Lynn Green calls for urgent action to protect vulnerable children
Posted:
05/10/2016
Commitment to refugee/asylum actions
Posted:
23/05/2016
Lynn Green urges churches to action on Calais
Posted:
11/03/2016
March 2: Statement on Calais and Macedonia
Posted:
02/03/2016
‘Governments must do more to meet the immediate need in Syria’
Posted:
03/02/2016
Baptists celebrate ground-breaking judgement as a simple act of humanity
Posted:
26/01/2016
WCC/UN conference calls for coordinated action on refugee crisis
Posted:
22/01/2016
A joint statement on Syria
Posted:
02/12/2015
EBF Sofia Resolution
Posted:
05/10/2015
Statements about the Refugee Crisis
Posted:
14/09/2015
National Refugee Welcome and Resettlement Board
Posted:
11/09/2015
European Responses to Refugees and Migrants
Posted:
10/09/2015
Statement from Baptist Steering Group
Posted:
09/09/2015
A Statement on the Situation in Calais
Posted:
14/08/2015
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