Seeking Asylum In the UK

 On Wednesday 3 December 2014 at 7.30 pm, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MALVERN HILLS GROUP presents a PUBLIC MEETING

(NOT) WELCOME: Seeking Asylum in the UK

Coach House Theatre   Grange Road   MALVERN   WR14 3HA   

Doors open 7pm

ADMISSION £5   STUDENTS £2   All proceeds to Amnesty International



Tickets available (from 13 November) in person or by post from Books for Amnesty, 3 Edith Walk, Malvern WR14 4QH. If applying by post, please mark envelope ‘Asylum’, enclose cheque payable to ‘Amnesty International’ and stamped self-addressed envelope.

Due to limited seating at the Coach House Theatre, we regret we can only accept reservations with advance payment. 

Any remaining seats will be sold on the door from 7pm.



Paying parking available in adjacent MHDC car parks in Grange Road, or larger car parks in Priory Road (opposite Malvern Splash). Cheap rate available 6pm - midnight.



GENERAL ENQUIRIES: Sue Wolfendale, Secretary, Malvern Hills Amnesty, 01684 562804   



Please download, print and display one of the posters attached: the 'BW' version will use less ink. Thank you.           

 

Speakers

Debra Gordon is the Mental Health Development Worker with Freedom from Torture.  She will speak about the complex and numerous challenges faced by torture survivors from both practical and psychological points of view. Debra is very experienced at working with survivors of torture and is always a captivating speaker. She trains members of other organisations on the effects of torture and treatment of its effects.



Elinor Harris, the Area Manager (Bristol) for Refugee Action, will talk about their work and comment on likely future changes in the asylum system and the treatment of asylum seekers.



Sunny Omwenyeke is a long-time activist for refugee and asylum rights, and was a major figure in refugee self-organisation in Germany. He led the protest movement and civil disobedience against the restriction of movement for refugees in Germany, for which he was a prisoner of conscience. Currently, Sunny is the West Midlands Coordinator ofRegional Asylum Activism. He will concentrate on his own experience  of torture and problems for asylum seekers in Europe.



Steve Symonds is now Co-Director of the Refugee and Migrants Rights programme at Amnesty International UK. He was Legal Officer for the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) between 2006 and 2012. Steve worked on the 2014 Immigration Bill (now Act) during its passage through parliament, working to influence its contents and briefing to what it means. He has considerable experience of work in parliament on legislation and is an experienced trainer. Steve will talk about advocacy, campaigning and public attitudes.



Meeting Chaired by

Julian Roskams - Mayor of Malvern, a councillor on Malvern Hills District Council, and the 2015 prospective parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in West Worcestershire. He has lived and worked in Malvern for 16 years, where he has promoted or championed many local social campaigns. Following discussions with Malvern Hills Amnesty Group, on 2 December Julian (with his fellow councillor, Professor John Raine) will be presenting the case for MHDC to offer housing to Syrian refugees.



All speakers have generously given their services free in support of Amnesty International.



Yours sincerely



Peter Thomas

for Malvern Hills Amnesty