WORKING WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS
"We are dealing with people's lives, not just numbers"
Jean is an acknowledge expert in the field of asylum and refugees. The future of asylum and immigration policies is a focal issue in all European countries, and Jean is involved both in the Parliament's work on developing EU policy, contributing to the debate in the UK and fighting for the rights on Asylum seekers in London, the UK and globally.
EURO-MP ‘ROUGHS IT’ IN SLEEP-OUT ASYLUM PROTEST: 11 February, 2004
Jean will experience the daily reality of a destitute asylum seeker tomorrow when she ‘sleeps rough’ in Trafalgar Square to draw attention to the human cost of the Government’s Asylum and Immigration Bill.
"Asylum seekers are being forced into destitution by a Government
whose policy is taken straight from the editorial columns of the right-wing
press,” said Jean.
"The UK must honour its international legal - not to mention moral
- obligations to provide sanctuary to those seeking refuge from tyranny
and persecution, not try to deter refugees with detention and draconian
attempts to drive them into poverty.”
GREEN EURO-MP SLAMS ASYLUM POLICY AT COMMONS PROTEST: 30 January, 2004
Jean has slammed the government's asylum policy as 'outrageous' and 'unjust' at a demonstration outside the House of Commons as part of an international day of action against detention of immigrants and asylum seekers.
Mrs Lambert, who joined demonstrators from across the UK calling for an end to detention of asylum seekers, said Government policy was based on a classic 'Catch-22' situation - closing 'legal' entry methods to asylum seekers and then denying applications from those migrants deemed to have entered the country illegally.
JEAN CALLS FOR HALT TO DEPORTATION: 9 June, 2003
Jean called for an immediate halt to deportation of asylum seekers following the breakdown of European negotiations on minimum standards for deciding asylum claims. Read Press Release
HOW UK FOREIGN INVESTMENT CREATES ASYLUM SEEKERS - PUBLIC SEMINAR: 8th
December 2002
What has been the impact of Western investment in key communities such as the Kurds, Colombians, Afghans and Tamils? How does the British Government contribute to human rights violations? How do arms sales support repressive regimes?
Asylum seekers are increasingly demonised as Economic Migrants in search of easy welfare. But the vast majority are fleeing social or economic oppression. Jean addressed this seminar on the broader links between enforced migration and globalisation.
JEAN LAMBERT SAYS NO TO "SNATCH SQUADS": 10th December 2002
There should be an immediate halt to the operation of the asylum snatch squads in London and the Government should urgently review its targets for the Immigration Service. Read Jean's Message of Support
ASYLUM & REFUGEE INVESTIGATION: 8th February 2002
Jean Lambert visited community projects in the boroughs of Camden, Hackney and Haringey as part of an investigation on behalf of the Civil Liberties Committee in the European Parliament. She prepared a report aimed at guaranteeing humane treatment for refugees and asylum seekers across Europe.
JEAN'S RESPONSE TO GLA DRAFT - REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN LONDON:
October 2001
A response to the GLA's draft perspective from Jean Lambert, London's Green Party MEP (October 2001)
Jean was pleased to see that the GLA is taking time to consult on the needs for refugees and asylum seekers in London. The needs of this sector of our community in London have long been neglected, despite their importance in creating the vibrancy and diversity that is part of the very fabric of London.
OTHER UK ACTION:
27th January 2003: Violent attacks on asylum seekers are being fuelled by the Daily Mail's racist campaign against refugees and immigrants, according to London Euro-MP Jean Lambert. "The Daily Mail's racist war on refugees and immigrants is contributing to a climate of fear and violence," said Mrs Lambert, Green MEP for London. Read Press Release
9th December 2002: Jean calls for UK to ratify migration treaty on UN Human Rights Day. Read Press Release
15th August 2002: Jean calls on Lottery Chief to resist Home Office attempts to destroy Asylum support group - the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaign. Read Press Release
20th June 2002: "Asylum crackdown will create more refugees, Green MEP tells London Demo". Read Press Release on the Green Party website.
23rd March 2002: Jean speaks at a conference to defend asylum seekers in Manchester. Read Jean's speech
8th February 2002: Jean visits London asylum organisations. Read Press Release
15 January 2002: Jean welcomes halt on deportations of Zimbabwean asylum seekers. Read Press Release
6 December 2001: Jean welcomes High Court decision declaring carriers' liability illegal. Read Press Release
29 October 2001: Jean condemns David Blunkett's new proposals on asylum. Read Press Release
February 2001: Letter to the Times on the Geneva Convention. Read Letter
!Useful Links!
Read more on the Nationality, Immigration & Asylum Act 2002
Refugee
Council
The largest UK organisation working with asylum seekers and refugees.
Asylum
Aid
A charity which provides free legal representation to refugees and asylum-seekers
GHARWEG
GHARWEG provides training and advice for ethnic minorities in the borough
of Southwark and surrounding areas.
The organisation is currently seeking international partners. For further
information, contact +44 (0) 207 620 1430
TRAFFICKING
On the 20th June 2003, Jean and Green Deputy Mayor Jenny Jones co-hosted a conference at London's City Hall on the Trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation in London.
The trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation is a high-profit, low-risk trade dominated by organised criminals. It results in women and children being exploited in slavery-like conditions in the UK's - but chiefly London's - sex industry, for the use and abuse of British men.
The conference working groups have produced a series of robust recommendations for the UK Government which we enclose now for action. A list of attendees at the conference are included with the recommendations.
Download conference recommendations (pdf) July 2003
GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS
LOOPHOLE ON RELIGIOUS HOMOPHOBIA MUST BE CLOSED
GREEN Euro-MP Jean Lambert has called for an investigation into Government attempts to weaken a EU directive which prohibits workplace discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The Employment And Work Conditions Directive (2000) banned workplace discrimination unless the difference on which the different treatment was based was a 'genuine and detrmining occupational requirement'.
But Government proposals to enshrine this exception into UK law will create a loophole allowing any religious organisation to discriminate against employing homosexuals in any role at all, Mrs Lambert has warned.
Read answer from the European Commission
AGEING AND PENSIONS
Jean is a co-President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Ageing, a cross-party group which meets to discuss issues related to older people. Read the Intergoup's Statement prior to the Spring Summit 2003, 'For a Better Coherence on Ageing Issues'
GREEN EURO-MP BIDS FOR 'GREY VOTE' AT PENSIONERS' PANEL
April 14, 2004 - GREEN Party MEP Jean Lambert bids for the influential 'grey vote' tomorrow when she joins rivals from other main political parties on a European Elections Panel organised by the Islington Pensioners Forum.
Mrs Lambert, London Euro-MP and co-president of the European Parliament's all-party group on Ageing, will tell the Islington Town Hall meeting that a vote for the Green Party is a vote for the party's 'Pensioners' Pledge' to guarantee a decent state pension for all, scrap means testing for pensioners and fight age discrimination in the workplace.
ONE IN FOUR SINGLE WOMEN PENSIONERS 'IN POVERTY' - LONDON MEP CONDEMNS POVERTY 'DOUBLE WHAMMY'
February 3, 2004 - LONDON'S Green Party MEP Jean Lambert has condemned the poverty 'double whammy' facing female pensioners in the UK, highlighted in a new report from Age Concern and the Fawcett Society.
The report, entitled 'One in Four', says that a quarter of single women pensioners live in poverty and that for every pound a man receives from a pension, a woman receives just 32p.
UK FAILS TO MEET EU DISCRIMINATION DEADLINE
December 2 2003 - The UK has failed to meet the deadline for implementing new laws preventing discrimination in the workplace. Only four out of the European Union's 15 Member States managed to meet the deadline for implementing domestic laws in line with the EU Employment Directive, which provides for equal treatment in employment, occupation and vocational training irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
London's Green MEP Jean Lambert, Co-President of the European Parliament's inter-group on ageing said today that failure by 11 countries to implement the legislation sets a terrible example for future Member States who have until 1 May 2004 to implement the Directive.
MAKING AGE WORK FOR LONDON
On December 1st 2003, Jean spoke at the launch of Age Concern's report:
Making Age Work for London.
Read Jean's speech
FUTURE OF STATE PENSIONS
17th October 2002 - National Pensioners Convention (NPC) - the future of the state pension. The House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee has launched an inquiry into the future of saving for retirement. The NPC has submitted written evidence to the inquiry which can be downloaded from www.natpencon.org.uk/index.htm
Read Jean Lambert's briefing on the EU and pensions