Refugee Week has just ended.
http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/
Lots of interesting things were going on in Glasgow which I never managed to get to, so I was pleased to make the effort – not really much of an effort- to wander off to Edinburgh Botanic Gardens for an afternoon of entertainment taking place as part of Refugee Week. The event was to raise funds for the Medical Foundation who work with women and others who have suffered torture.
The link below is to their site and specifically to some survivors’ stories.
http://www.torturecare.org.uk/survivors_stories
I took time to read much of the information on their site and it is simply humbling to become aware of what many people, even children are subjected to. All too frequently the Westminster administration has failed to act to protect those at risk of torture, or even, in the case of extraordinary rendition, are alleged perpetrators/facilitators.
The section on dawn raids contained in the myths page is especially enraging, as this is happening to women, their children and/or the male in a household under the legal system in the UK. While I was peripherally aware of all this, it is not until I read about it in more detail that I could dimly perceive the fuller picture of what is done in our name in our own cities to the most vulnerable people who have come here in the hope of a place of safety.
Women have particular problems when seeking asylum and the Scottish Refugee Council recognises this in their provision of a women’s group and links to women-only organisations throughout Scotland. For those who misunderstand the necessity of women-only provision consider how a mixed group would be useless to women from cultures where the sexes are segregated, as well as how crucial it is for many women to feel safe to talk without men there.
http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/advice/en/Women
I’m not sure how widely the Refugee Week events were publicised, but I’m glad to have had the opportunity to attend one and next year I’ll try to plan ahead.
While in the Botanic Gardens, I took some photographs and sniffed some wonderful flowers, a scented rhododendron, roses and jasmine. The photograph above is of a delicate acer (Maple) which had gorgeous little red ‘flowers’ that are only just visible in the photograph.
http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/
Lots of interesting things were going on in Glasgow which I never managed to get to, so I was pleased to make the effort – not really much of an effort- to wander off to Edinburgh Botanic Gardens for an afternoon of entertainment taking place as part of Refugee Week. The event was to raise funds for the Medical Foundation who work with women and others who have suffered torture.
The link below is to their site and specifically to some survivors’ stories.
http://www.torturecare.org.uk/survivors_stories
I took time to read much of the information on their site and it is simply humbling to become aware of what many people, even children are subjected to. All too frequently the Westminster administration has failed to act to protect those at risk of torture, or even, in the case of extraordinary rendition, are alleged perpetrators/facilitators.
The section on dawn raids contained in the myths page is especially enraging, as this is happening to women, their children and/or the male in a household under the legal system in the UK. While I was peripherally aware of all this, it is not until I read about it in more detail that I could dimly perceive the fuller picture of what is done in our name in our own cities to the most vulnerable people who have come here in the hope of a place of safety.
Women have particular problems when seeking asylum and the Scottish Refugee Council recognises this in their provision of a women’s group and links to women-only organisations throughout Scotland. For those who misunderstand the necessity of women-only provision consider how a mixed group would be useless to women from cultures where the sexes are segregated, as well as how crucial it is for many women to feel safe to talk without men there.
http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/advice/en/Women
I’m not sure how widely the Refugee Week events were publicised, but I’m glad to have had the opportunity to attend one and next year I’ll try to plan ahead.
While in the Botanic Gardens, I took some photographs and sniffed some wonderful flowers, a scented rhododendron, roses and jasmine. The photograph above is of a delicate acer (Maple) which had gorgeous little red ‘flowers’ that are only just visible in the photograph.
No comments:
Post a Comment