Today (23rd February), students across the UK will show their support for asylum seekers locally and nationally in a day of action organised by Student Action for Refugees (STAR), and supported by the National Union of Students (NUS).

Students will be taking part in a variety of events aimed at raising awareness of some of the problems that refugees encounter in the UK, including the difficulties asylum seekers can face on university and college campuses, and the flawed process of determining the age of young asylum seekers arriving unaccompanied in Britain.

Pav Akhtar, NUS Black Students Officer and Co-convenor of the NUS Anti-Racism Committee said:

“Asylum seekers do not choose lightly to abandon their homes, families and livelihoods, and are often faced with a difficult and lonely experience when they reach Britain. Some of the problems that asylum seekers face will be on college and university campuses. That’s why today is so important as it gives students the opportunity to show their support and understanding for asylum seekers and the difficulties they face when they leave their own countries.

I believe that the STAR network provides a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about asylum issues, to provide practical assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in their local area, and to really make a difference to both their own and other peoples lives”

Peter Leary, member of the NUS Anti-Racism Committee, added:

“There is often talk in the media of ‘millions of people waiting to come to Britain’, and that we cannot ‘absorb new comers at the current pace.’ However, the reality is that the UK takes only 1-2% of the world’s refugees and asylum seekers. It is critical we present the truth about the positive contribution that migrants and refugees make to our economy and society.”

NUS and STAR have co-produced a briefing pack on how to engage positively with students who are asylum seekers, this is available on the NUS and STAR websites.

The Blogs on this site represent the individual views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or practices of the National Union of Students.

All links in blogs will open in a new browser window.

The permanent URL for this specific blog entry is: http://www.officeronline.co.uk/blogs/pavakhtar/272060.aspx