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Pilgrimage to highlight plight of destitute asylum seekers
Christians from across West Yorkshire will be having a pilgrimage through Leeds city centre on the afternoon of Saturday 4th December 2005 in solidarity with the people who are seeking asylum who have been made destitute. The march is part of the “Living Ghosts” campaign to change Government policies that make those people seeking asylum destitute.
The pilgrimage is part of Church Action on Poverty’s new “Living Ghosts” campaign to end the destitution of people seeking asylum. Hundreds of Christians have joined the campaign over recent weeks, including over 30 Bishops. Some will be taking part in the Endurance Challenge to live as a destitute asylum seeker for the first week of advent (27 November - 4 December) - on £5 and a food parcel.
Reverend Canon Kathryn Fitzsimons, Urban Officer diocese of Ripon & Leeds, said: “In this rich and welcoming country of ours we now have people seeking asylum who are destitute, homeless, or living on food parcels. Many of these people are “living ghosts” that no one knows about.
These problems would be eradicated if those seeking asylum were allowed to sustain themselves and contribute to wider society through paid work. This would stop people disappearing – beyond the radar of the government. It would bring new and skilled people into our legal economy helping to make our society prosperous.
Britain has a long history of welcoming people escaping poverty and suffering and recognising their rights to “food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services” (UN Declaration of Human Rights). Our society believes that everyone within our borders who can work should be able to, and there is security for those that can't. We call on the Government to uphold these values and change the policies that are making people destitute.”
