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Around the Campaigns Friday 6th February 2009

John O | 06.02.2009 11:38 | Migration | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Birmingham | World

Leila, Soorena and Danoushm, on plane, off plane, back in Yarl's Wood
I can't believe what I'm writing here, but at 25 to six, twenty minutes after the plane should have gone, I had a phone call from Sourena on his phone. I couldn't hear a word he was saying, so asked if I could speak to someone with him. An officer said they were being removed from the plane and taken back to Yarl's Wood, and that's where they are today.

Having just spoken to Leila’s legal representative this morning he says the Home Office are ‘livid’ at what happened and want the flight rescheduling asap. It’s all still hanging on a thread…. He has spoken to Sourena. Evidently, all three of them were separated either in transit, for the flight or both, we are not sure – including 18 month old Sourena being separated from his mother! That is absolutely outrageous! Danoushm is still traumatized this morning, we hear. Sourena has scratches on his face. This is completely inhumane! Thanks to all who faxed/phoned on family's behalf.
Phil Townend
Leila, Soorena and Danoushm belong to Halifax
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine103/Leila.html

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Democratic Republic of the Congo: Published Friday 6th February 2009

The Committee is alarmed over the grave violations committed against children by both State party forces and non-State armed groups in the context of the armed conflict. The Committee is gravely concerned that children’s right to life, survival and development are violated as a consequence of being the most vulnerable of victims in hostilities. The Committee also expresses grave concern at the very high rates of infant, under-five and maternal mortality, as well as at deaths caused by preventable diseases or by HIV/AIDS, conditions all of which are aggravated by the armed conflict.
Extracts and full report can be accessed here:  http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine103/DRCRigtsChildren.html



Crusade against the undocumented
Every day, across the UK, aggressive raids are being carried out at workplaces to root out those without papers. Britain's ethnic restaurant sector is under attack from government officials who, in their single-minded drive to meet ever higher targets for deportation, have no interest in the impact of their policies on small family businesses or the effect on Britain's high streets. Workplace immigration raids, and raids on the homes of low-paid care workers and cleaners, carried out in unprecedented numbers and resulting in unprecedented rates of removal of people for transgressing immigration laws, see family assets wiped out, families criminalised, and skilled and hard working men and women jailed or deported. Every day, somewhere in the UK, immigration officers, often with police, frequently wearing stab-proof vests, surround High Street restaurants, takeaways and convenience stores, seal exits and storm in,
Read full article: By Frances Webber, published by IRR
 http://www.irr.org.uk/2009/february/ha000011.html



Sri Lanka / House of Commons / 5 Feb 2009 : Column 1007
~~To put it bluntly, the situation in Sri Lanka is nothing short of shocking. We are very concerned about the humanitarian and human rights situation there. The humanitarian situation in the north of the country particularly has seriously deteriorated since the House last debated this subject in December.
~~ In recent weeks, the fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Government of Sri Lanka has become increasingly bloody and the humanitarian situation has deteriorated dramatically. Fighting has continued even within the Government-declared safe zone, and on Sunday a hospital that had been declared a no-fire zone was shelled three times.
 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090205/debtext/90205-0009.htm#09020541000007



Violence against Women and Children
To call attention to measures to tackle violence against women and children;
Baroness Gale: My Lords, once again we debate violence against women and children, a topic to which your Lordships' House often returns. I welcome the opportunity to do so today, if only to send a message to all the women and children who are suffering from violence in this way.

The UN defines violence against women as, "any act of gender-based violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately". It includes rape and sexual violence, domestic violence, forced marriages, stalking, trafficking and sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, crimes in the name of honour, female genital mutilation and sexual harassment.
Moved By Baroness Gale / House of Lords / 5 Feb 2009 : Column 811
 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90205-0008.htm#09020540000819

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
Leila, Soorena and Danoushm Campaign
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Institute of Race Relations
Hansard

John O
- e-mail: JohnO@ncadc.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.ncadc.org.uk


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