as a former refugee I know too well the struggles that this status this label
struggles that this status this label
struggles that this status this label entails I want to talk about the refugee
entails I want to talk about the refugee
entails I want to talk about the refugee crisis and suggest some potential
crisis and suggest some potential
crisis and suggest some potential solutions but before I get to that part
solutions but before I get to that part
solutions but before I get to that part can I share with you my story I came to
can I share with you my story I came to
can I share with you my story I came to the UK seventeen years ago at the age of
the UK seventeen years ago at the age of
the UK seventeen years ago at the age of 10 with my mother who was pregnant with
10 with my mother who was pregnant with
10 with my mother who was pregnant with my wee sister at that time we sought
my wee sister at that time we sought
my wee sister at that time we sought asylum in London and a year later we
asylum in London and a year later we
asylum in London and a year later we were told we were going to be dispersed
were told we were going to be dispersed
were told we were going to be dispersed elsewhere in the UK so I thought that’s
elsewhere in the UK so I thought that’s
elsewhere in the UK so I thought that’s fine you know five minutes from London
fine you know five minutes from London
fine you know five minutes from London ten minutes from London shouldn’t be a
ten minutes from London shouldn’t be a
ten minutes from London shouldn’t be a problem you know but of course that
problem you know but of course that
problem you know but of course that wasn’t the case so one day a huge coach
wasn’t the case so one day a huge coach
wasn’t the case so one day a huge coach came with lots of different families in
came with lots of different families in
came with lots of different families in this coach and I felt like we did a tour
this coach and I felt like we did a tour
this coach and I felt like we did a tour of the UK that day because families were
of the UK that day because families were
of the UK that day because families were being dropped off in different cities
being dropped off in different cities
being dropped off in different cities but we were not getting off and I
but we were not getting off and I
but we were not getting off and I thought where are we going I was 11 at
thought where are we going I was 11 at
thought where are we going I was 11 at that age so mom said look go and speak
that age so mom said look go and speak
that age so mom said look go and speak to the driver maybe they made a mistake
to the driver maybe they made a mistake
to the driver maybe they made a mistake ask where are we getting off so I did
ask where are we getting off so I did
ask where are we getting off so I did that I went to the drive when I said
that I went to the drive when I said
that I went to the drive when I said excuse me sir is my family on your list
excuse me sir is my family on your list
excuse me sir is my family on your list he said yes you’re on the list but
he said yes you’re on the list but
he said yes you’re on the list but you’re last and I said why we lost and
you’re last and I said why we lost and
you’re last and I said why we lost and he said because you’re going to Glasgow
he said because you’re going to Glasgow
he said because you’re going to Glasgow and I was like I’m sorry what
and I was like I’m sorry what
and I was like I’m sorry what and he said you know gods go and I was
and he said you know gods go and I was
and he said you know gods go and I was like yes I heard you West Glasgow and
like yes I heard you West Glasgow and
like yes I heard you West Glasgow and he’s like it’s in Scotland and I was
he’s like it’s in Scotland and I was
he’s like it’s in Scotland and I was like where Scotland you know so I never
like where Scotland you know so I never
like where Scotland you know so I never heard of Scotland let alone Glasgow so I
heard of Scotland let alone Glasgow so I
heard of Scotland let alone Glasgow so I went back down inside next my mom I said
went back down inside next my mom I said
went back down inside next my mom I said mom have you heard of Scotland no have
mom have you heard of Scotland no have
mom have you heard of Scotland no have you heard of Glasgow no great don’t know
you heard of Glasgow no great don’t know
you heard of Glasgow no great don’t know where we’re going fantastic but actually
where we’re going fantastic but actually
where we’re going fantastic but actually looking back now it’s the best decision
looking back now it’s the best decision
looking back now it’s the best decision that has happened to me my family
that has happened to me my family
that has happened to me my family glass was very dear to me for many
glass was very dear to me for many
glass was very dear to me for many reasons and one of them I will share
reasons and one of them I will share
reasons and one of them I will share with you in a moment a few years later
with you in a moment a few years later
with you in a moment a few years later in 2004 we received our leaf to remain
in 2004 we received our leaf to remain
in 2004 we received our leaf to remain which meant that we were recognized as a
which meant that we were recognized as a
which meant that we were recognized as a refugees so an asylum seeker is somebody
refugees so an asylum seeker is somebody
refugees so an asylum seeker is somebody who’s seeking sanctuary and safety right
who’s seeking sanctuary and safety right
who’s seeking sanctuary and safety right they’re fleeing their country because of
they’re fleeing their country because of
they’re fleeing their country because of the fear of war and persecution due to
the fear of war and persecution due to
the fear of war and persecution due to race religion political views so on and
race religion political views so on and
race religion political views so on and so forth so while you’re waiting for
so forth so while you’re waiting for
so forth so while you’re waiting for your asylum claim to be processed by the
your asylum claim to be processed by the
your asylum claim to be processed by the Home Office asylum seekers are not
Home Office asylum seekers are not
Home Office asylum seekers are not allowed to work they cannot go to
allowed to work they cannot go to
allowed to work they cannot go to university and recently I found out
university and recently I found out
university and recently I found out they’re not allowed to get married
they’re not allowed to get married
they’re not allowed to get married either so in 2004 when we received our
either so in 2004 when we received our
either so in 2004 when we received our status um I felt really happy because I
status um I felt really happy because I
status um I felt really happy because I thought it’s great you know I I can go
thought it’s great you know I I can go
thought it’s great you know I I can go to school I mean while I was going to
to school I mean while I was going to
to school I mean while I was going to school already but I can go to uni after
school already but I can go to uni after
school already but I can go to uni after school and so on but I’m gonna be
school and so on but I’m gonna be
school and so on but I’m gonna be thinking my friends who were also still
thinking my friends who were also still
thinking my friends who were also still I sound seekers don’t know if they can
I sound seekers don’t know if they can
I sound seekers don’t know if they can stay here or not so then that’s when we
stay here or not so then that’s when we
stay here or not so then that’s when we were recognized by the government as
were recognized by the government as
were recognized by the government as refugees now there’s this seems to be
refugees now there’s this seems to be
refugees now there’s this seems to be like a confusion going on between who’s
like a confusion going on between who’s
like a confusion going on between who’s honest and psycho who is a refugee and
honest and psycho who is a refugee and
honest and psycho who is a refugee and who’s a migrant I explained one asylum
who’s a migrant I explained one asylum
who’s a migrant I explained one asylum seeker is where a refugee is a migrant
seeker is where a refugee is a migrant
seeker is where a refugee is a migrant is somebody who chooses to leave their
is somebody who chooses to leave their
is somebody who chooses to leave their country of origin for better employment
country of origin for better employment
country of origin for better employment opportunities right so there are very
opportunities right so there are very
opportunities right so there are very different things
different things
different things now there are almost 60 million refugees
now there are almost 60 million refugees
now there are almost 60 million refugees in the world over half and our children
in the world over half and our children
in the world over half and our children and some of those children
and some of those children
and some of those children annika are unaccompanied minors so I
annika are unaccompanied minors so I
annika are unaccompanied minors so I want to ask you guys right now how many
want to ask you guys right now how many
want to ask you guys right now how many refugees
refugees
refugees do you think the UK has taken put your
do you think the UK has taken put your
do you think the UK has taken put your hand off if you think it’s over two
hand off if you think it’s over two
hand off if you think it’s over two percent okay put your hand up if you
percent okay put your hand up if you
percent okay put your hand up if you think it’s less than one percent okay
think it’s less than one percent okay
think it’s less than one percent okay put your hand up if you think it’s
put your hand up if you think it’s
put your hand up if you think it’s around five percent okay
around five percent okay
around five percent okay thank you the UK houses one percent of
thank you the UK houses one percent of
thank you the UK houses one percent of the world’s refugees in fact eighty six
the world’s refugees in fact eighty six
the world’s refugees in fact eighty six percent of the world’s refugees are
percent of the world’s refugees are
percent of the world’s refugees are hosted by developing countries countries
hosted by developing countries countries
hosted by developing countries countries like Turkey are hosting 2.5 million
like Turkey are hosting 2.5 million
like Turkey are hosting 2.5 million refugees other countries include
refugees other countries include
refugees other countries include Pakistan Jordan Lebanon and Egypt now I
Pakistan Jordan Lebanon and Egypt now I
Pakistan Jordan Lebanon and Egypt now I said earlier gaas was very precious to
said earlier gaas was very precious to
said earlier gaas was very precious to him right so when I was 15 years old a
him right so when I was 15 years old a
him right so when I was 15 years old a year after we got our leaf to remain
year after we got our leaf to remain
year after we got our leaf to remain which meant we had that piece of paper
which meant we had that piece of paper
which meant we had that piece of paper to say that we can stay in this country
to say that we can stay in this country
to say that we can stay in this country one of my school friends egg Nessa aroma
one of my school friends egg Nessa aroma
one of my school friends egg Nessa aroma gypsy from Kosovo who’d been living in
gypsy from Kosovo who’d been living in
gypsy from Kosovo who’d been living in Glasgow for five years of that time was
Glasgow for five years of that time was
Glasgow for five years of that time was dawn raided and detained she was 15 on a
dawn raided and detained she was 15 on a
dawn raided and detained she was 15 on a Sunday morning 14 home office officials
Sunday morning 14 home office officials
Sunday morning 14 home office officials wearing bulletproof vests and helmets
wearing bulletproof vests and helmets
wearing bulletproof vests and helmets knocked knocked Agnes’s flat and went in
knocked knocked Agnes’s flat and went in
knocked knocked Agnes’s flat and went in handcuffed her father in front of Agnes
handcuffed her father in front of Agnes
handcuffed her father in front of Agnes and her two younger brothers put them in
and her two younger brothers put them in
and her two younger brothers put them in two vans and drove them to a detention
two vans and drove them to a detention
two vans and drove them to a detention centre in England and locked them up
centre in England and locked them up
centre in England and locked them up like criminals for three weeks now Agnes
like criminals for three weeks now Agnes
like criminals for three weeks now Agnes and her family did nothing wrong nobody
and her family did nothing wrong nobody
and her family did nothing wrong nobody chooses to be an asylum seeker nobody
chooses to be an asylum seeker nobody
chooses to be an asylum seeker nobody chooses to be a refugee so when that
chooses to be a refugee so when that
chooses to be a refugee so when that happened I was absolutely outraged and
happened I was absolutely outraged and
happened I was absolutely outraged and believe it or not I was a very shy girl
believe it or not I was a very shy girl
believe it or not I was a very shy girl at school
at school
at school clearly still shy and and we’re not yeah
clearly still shy and and we’re not yeah
clearly still shy and and we’re not yeah when that happened I went to my school
when that happened I went to my school
when that happened I went to my school teacher who was a bilingual teacher at
teacher who was a bilingual teacher at
teacher who was a bilingual teacher at that time total legend by the way and I
that time total legend by the way and I
that time total legend by the way and I said to him I was like mr. Garvin I
said to him I was like mr. Garvin I
said to him I was like mr. Garvin I don’t understand why egg nests and her
don’t understand why egg nests and her
don’t understand why egg nests and her family have been treated like this
family have been treated like this
family have been treated like this they’ve done nothing wrong they didn’t
they’ve done nothing wrong they didn’t
they’ve done nothing wrong they didn’t want to leave their home they left
want to leave their home they left
want to leave their home they left because they’re desperate to survive and
because they’re desperate to survive and
because they’re desperate to survive and especially for Agnes or her younger
especially for Agnes or her younger
especially for Agnes or her younger brothers
brothers
brothers so before I knew it five other girls
so before I knew it five other girls
so before I knew it five other girls join me and we
join me and we
join me and we Kame known in the media as the glasgow
Kame known in the media as the glasgow
Kame known in the media as the glasgow girls we campaigned and we started a
girls we campaigned and we started a
girls we campaigned and we started a petition in school almost everybody
petition in school almost everybody
petition in school almost everybody signed it we then presented it to our
signed it we then presented it to our
signed it we then presented it to our local politician who then invited us to
local politician who then invited us to
local politician who then invited us to the Scottish Parliament and during the
the Scottish Parliament and during the
the Scottish Parliament and during the time we were campaigning
time we were campaigning
time we were campaigning ignacio’s lawyer gathered up the
ignacio’s lawyer gathered up the
ignacio’s lawyer gathered up the evidence from the United Nations and
evidence from the United Nations and
evidence from the United Nations and submitted that to the Home Office to say
submitted that to the Home Office to say
submitted that to the Home Office to say actually if you deport this family they
actually if you deport this family they
actually if you deport this family they were going to be persecuted so then that
were going to be persecuted so then that
were going to be persecuted so then that decision was overturned
decision was overturned
decision was overturned Agnes’s living in Glasgow she’s got her
Agnes’s living in Glasgow she’s got her
Agnes’s living in Glasgow she’s got her leave to remain and she’s really happy
leave to remain and she’s really happy
leave to remain and she’s really happy so we’re successful in her case but we
so we’re successful in her case but we
so we’re successful in her case but we lost as well we lost so many families so
lost as well we lost so many families so
lost as well we lost so many families so many families unfortunately were
many families unfortunately were
many families unfortunately were deported to unsafe countries and I
deported to unsafe countries and I
deported to unsafe countries and I should say that the UK is the only
should say that the UK is the only
should say that the UK is the only country in Europe that has indefinite
country in Europe that has indefinite
country in Europe that has indefinite detention so if a criminal commits a
detention so if a criminal commits a
detention so if a criminal commits a crime they know how long their sentences
crime they know how long their sentences
crime they know how long their sentences if an asylum seeker seeking protection
if an asylum seeker seeking protection
if an asylum seeker seeking protection running for more persecution comes the
running for more persecution comes the
running for more persecution comes the UK and their case is rejected they could
UK and their case is rejected they could
UK and their case is rejected they could be detained indefinitely and the other
be detained indefinitely and the other
be detained indefinitely and the other issue is destitution so – you’re a
issue is destitution so – you’re a
issue is destitution so – you’re a scientist basically are people who’s a
scientist basically are people who’s a
scientist basically are people who’s a sound claim has been rejected but the
sound claim has been rejected but the
sound claim has been rejected but the government recognizes the daily cannot
government recognizes the daily cannot
government recognizes the daily cannot be deported because their country of
be deported because their country of
be deported because their country of origin is not safe enough but the same
origin is not safe enough but the same
origin is not safe enough but the same time they won’t give them lift to remain
time they won’t give them lift to remain
time they won’t give them lift to remain so they’re made destitute so they’re out
so they’re made destitute so they’re out
so they’re made destitute so they’re out in the street without any without home
in the street without any without home
in the street without any without home and without any resources basically no
and without any resources basically no
and without any resources basically no benefits and so on so fast forward a
benefits and so on so fast forward a
benefits and so on so fast forward a couple of years and I continued
couple of years and I continued
couple of years and I continued campaigning and before the picture of
campaigning and before the picture of
campaigning and before the picture of the little boy Island QWERTY was
the little boy Island QWERTY was
the little boy Island QWERTY was published me and Pina Axew and Margaret
published me and Pina Axew and Margaret
published me and Pina Axew and Margaret woods from Gaza campaigned to welcome
woods from Gaza campaigned to welcome
woods from Gaza campaigned to welcome refugees decided that we would go to
refugees decided that we would go to
refugees decided that we would go to Greece to help refugees arriving by boat
Greece to help refugees arriving by boat
Greece to help refugees arriving by boat because we knew that the situation was
because we knew that the situation was
because we knew that the situation was getting worse I mean the refugee crisis
getting worse I mean the refugee crisis
getting worse I mean the refugee crisis has been going on for a long long time
has been going on for a long long time
has been going on for a long long time not just since the picture was published
not just since the picture was published
not just since the picture was published so we decided was raised a little bit of
so we decided was raised a little bit of
so we decided was raised a little bit of money and helped people out there and we
money and helped people out there and we
money and helped people out there and we thought maybe maximum would raise about
thought maybe maximum would raise about
thought maybe maximum would raise about what five hundred pounds but when the
what five hundred pounds but when the
what five hundred pounds but when the picture was published who raised almost
picture was published who raised almost
picture was published who raised almost ten thousand pounds it was overwhelming
ten thousand pounds it was overwhelming
ten thousand pounds it was overwhelming I mean we had one mother Emma
I mean we had one mother Emma
I mean we had one mother Emma saying her two daughters one was nine
saying her two daughters one was nine
saying her two daughters one was nine and one was seven had sold their toys to
and one was seven had sold their toys to
and one was seven had sold their toys to raise money for refugees
raise money for refugees
raise money for refugees about what that’s what Glasgow
about what that’s what Glasgow
about what that’s what Glasgow represents for me it’s humanity it’s
represents for me it’s humanity it’s
represents for me it’s humanity it’s justice as fairness it’s seeing people
justice as fairness it’s seeing people
justice as fairness it’s seeing people as people rather than labels so went to
as people rather than labels so went to
as people rather than labels so went to Greece we went to Athens first and we
Greece we went to Athens first and we
Greece we went to Athens first and we went to a place called Victoria Square
went to a place called Victoria Square
went to a place called Victoria Square and it was basically a square in the
and it was basically a square in the
and it was basically a square in the middle of the city and lots of families
middle of the city and lots of families
middle of the city and lots of families were sleeping on the floor with so lots
were sleeping on the floor with so lots
were sleeping on the floor with so lots of children and one thing I will always
of children and one thing I will always
of children and one thing I will always remember is a little girl who basically
remember is a little girl who basically
remember is a little girl who basically took us suite from a lovely Greek woman
took us suite from a lovely Greek woman
took us suite from a lovely Greek woman who’s distributing it to the two
who’s distributing it to the two
who’s distributing it to the two families and she came to me and Peter
families and she came to me and Peter
families and she came to me and Peter and she asked us would you like to share
and she asked us would you like to share
and she asked us would you like to share my sweets with me she must have been
my sweets with me she must have been
my sweets with me she must have been only five now that girl had nothing she
only five now that girl had nothing she
only five now that girl had nothing she didn’t know what was going to happen to
didn’t know what was going to happen to
didn’t know what was going to happen to her tomorrow she was sleeping on the
her tomorrow she was sleeping on the
her tomorrow she was sleeping on the floor with her family but she had
floor with her family but she had
floor with her family but she had humanity to share the little thing that
humanity to share the little thing that
humanity to share the little thing that she had left we looked at each other and
she had left we looked at each other and
she had left we looked at each other and just burst into tears and that we will
just burst into tears and that we will
just burst into tears and that we will never forget we heard from the
never forget we heard from the
never forget we heard from the volunteers that for the families to use
volunteers that for the families to use
volunteers that for the families to use the toilet they had to pay two euros
the toilet they had to pay two euros
the toilet they had to pay two euros each we then went to lesbos which is the
each we then went to lesbos which is the
each we then went to lesbos which is the island where a lot of the refugees
island where a lot of the refugees
island where a lot of the refugees arriving from Greece
arriving from Greece
arriving from Greece it’s a lovely man called Erik Hansen and
it’s a lovely man called Erik Hansen and
it’s a lovely man called Erik Hansen and he was telling us about you know the
he was telling us about you know the
he was telling us about you know the fact how many people are arriving every
fact how many people are arriving every
fact how many people are arriving every single day and all we could see were
single day and all we could see were
single day and all we could see were lifejackets you know but for me all I
lifejackets you know but for me all I
lifejackets you know but for me all I could see were lives and it was
could see were lives and it was
could see were lives and it was heartbreaking it’s absolutely
heartbreaking it’s absolutely
heartbreaking it’s absolutely heartbreaking and he asked us if we
heartbreaking and he asked us if we
heartbreaking and he asked us if we wanted to help refugees of the boats the
wanted to help refugees of the boats the
wanted to help refugees of the boats the following day so we did we went along
following day so we did we went along
following day so we did we went along and we saw families arriving by the
and we saw families arriving by the
and we saw families arriving by the boats and this mother from Afghanistan
boats and this mother from Afghanistan
boats and this mother from Afghanistan gave me her child to check if her little
gave me her child to check if her little
gave me her child to check if her little baby was still alive because they were
baby was still alive because they were
baby was still alive because they were soaking wet and volunteer who was doctor
soaking wet and volunteer who was doctor
soaking wet and volunteer who was doctor came running to help because they were
came running to help because they were
came running to help because they were not NGOs when we were there and he
not NGOs when we were there and he
not NGOs when we were there and he looked at I mean he saw how distressed
looked at I mean he saw how distressed
looked at I mean he saw how distressed we all were and he said to me look I’m
we all were and he said to me look I’m
we all were and he said to me look I’m al all we can do is smile and say
al all we can do is smile and say
al all we can do is smile and say welcome because we know how we have no
welcome because we know how we have no
welcome because we know how we have no power in this
power in this
power in this you know I will always remember that and
you know I will always remember that and
you know I will always remember that and then we came back and tried to raise as
then we came back and tried to raise as
then we came back and tried to raise as much awareness as possible and then last
much awareness as possible and then last
much awareness as possible and then last year I also went to Calais in France we
year I also went to Calais in France we
year I also went to Calais in France we went to the jungle before it was
went to the jungle before it was
went to the jungle before it was demolished and again we saw lots of an
demolished and again we saw lots of an
demolished and again we saw lots of an unaccompanied minors and I always think
unaccompanied minors and I always think
unaccompanied minors and I always think back and think what I wonder what’s
back and think what I wonder what’s
back and think what I wonder what’s happened to them
happened to them
happened to them I wonder what’s happened to a little Nam
I wonder what’s happened to a little Nam
I wonder what’s happened to a little Nam in her family you know what was their
in her family you know what was their
in her family you know what was their future it is a horrible situation I mean
future it is a horrible situation I mean
future it is a horrible situation I mean we’re experiencing the worst refugee
we’re experiencing the worst refugee
we’re experiencing the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War
crisis since the Second World War
crisis since the Second World War father said earlier I would like to
father said earlier I would like to
father said earlier I would like to suggest some potential solutions I hope
suggest some potential solutions I hope
suggest some potential solutions I hope that we can have a fair and humane
that we can have a fair and humane
that we can have a fair and humane Asylum system and to end detention and
Asylum system and to end detention and
Asylum system and to end detention and destitution the United Nations refugee
destitution the United Nations refugee
destitution the United Nations refugee agency has alternatives to detention for
agency has alternatives to detention for
agency has alternatives to detention for example keeping families in the
example keeping families in the
example keeping families in the community instead of locking them up
community instead of locking them up
community instead of locking them up like criminals allowing safe routes to
like criminals allowing safe routes to
like criminals allowing safe routes to sanctuary and safety allowing people to
sanctuary and safety allowing people to
sanctuary and safety allowing people to reunite allowing those young
reunite allowing those young
reunite allowing those young unaccompanied minors children unite with
unaccompanied minors children unite with
unaccompanied minors children unite with their families and world leaders also
their families and world leaders also
their families and world leaders also need to put saving lives first nobody
need to put saving lives first nobody
need to put saving lives first nobody should drown crossing a border yet
should drown crossing a border yet
should drown crossing a border yet almost 7,000 people have drowned
almost 7,000 people have drowned
almost 7,000 people have drowned governments needs to stop blaming
governments needs to stop blaming
governments needs to stop blaming refugees and migrants for economic and
refugees and migrants for economic and
refugees and migrants for economic and social problems and they need to stop
social problems and they need to stop
social problems and they need to stop and racism and discrimination and
and racism and discrimination and
and racism and discrimination and legitimizing it I mean I can’t believe
legitimizing it I mean I can’t believe
legitimizing it I mean I can’t believe in 2017 there’s a refugee ban by Donald
in 2017 there’s a refugee ban by Donald
in 2017 there’s a refugee ban by Donald Trump it’s absolutely shocking where is
Trump it’s absolutely shocking where is
Trump it’s absolutely shocking where is humanity I’m a hopeful person and I have
humanity I’m a hopeful person and I have
humanity I’m a hopeful person and I have a very heavy didn’t already gets it I
a very heavy didn’t already gets it I
a very heavy didn’t already gets it I have a strong belief in humanity and I
have a strong belief in humanity and I
have a strong belief in humanity and I know that this hope out there and we can
know that this hope out there and we can
know that this hope out there and we can make a difference so I want to end with
make a difference so I want to end with
make a difference so I want to end with a message of hope instead of building
a message of hope instead of building
a message of hope instead of building walls
walls
walls let’s build homes instead of spending
let’s build homes instead of spending
let’s build homes instead of spending billions on weapons
billions on weapons
billions on weapons and war they spend it on the homeless
and war they spend it on the homeless
and war they spend it on the homeless and the needy instead of spreading hate
and the needy instead of spreading hate
and the needy instead of spreading hate let’s spread love because love knows no
let’s spread love because love knows no
let’s spread love because love knows no borders thank you very much
borders thank you very much
borders thank you very much [Applause]
”
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