[Netnews-action] 3 Sept: Public Meeting Against Section 9

[michael]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
> From: Emma Ginn <ncadc-north-west at ncadc.org.uk>

> Public Meeting Against Section 9 Destitution - Saturday 3rd September
> 2pm to 4pm - Friends Meeting House, Mount St, Manchester Centre
> Sponsored by : the Khanali, Sukula and Altaf families who are all
> under threat.
> 
> Speakers ;
> Florence Hill - Bolton UNISON Education Convener
> Flores Sukula - Sukula Family Campaign
> John Nicholson - Bury Law Centre
> Florence Okolo - Social Worker
> 
> Section 9 - Asylum seeking families whose applications have failed but
> who remain in the UK are made homeless and destitute - local
> authorities have a duty of care towards destitute children, who would
> have to be taken into care despite having loving and capable parents
> who do not want to loose them.
> 
> Another weapon in the government's armoury for deportations at
> seemingly any cost.
> 
> Families traumatised at the thought of their children either being
> taken from them here or exposing them to persecution in their
> homeland.
> 
> "This brutal power Š calls into question our standing in the
> international community"
> The British Association of Social Workers
> 
> "Ideas of this sort really belongs to an earlier century"
> The Association of Directors of Social Services
> 
> Vote : "Are city councils right to object to the 'immoral' new asylum
> rules on benefits?" - 87% YES
> Manchester Evening News readers, 25th August
> 
> Section 9 is being "piloted" in the North West.  But this legislation
> effects every Local council. Social worker, housing officers, many
> working with asylum seekers are expected to betray their practice of
> supporting children and families. Social workers have been trained to
> keep loving, caring families together, not split them up.
> 
> If like many others you have a problem being involved in implementing
> legislation that  goes against all your understanding and training -
> being asked to take children away from capable parents - helping to
> achieve the Home Office's arbitrary targets on deportations Š then
> come and learn what Section 9 really means, what's behind it, meet
> families affected by Section 9, their legal representatives, and meet
> other workers who feel unsure or isolated, who need solidarity to
> resist what they are being confronted with.
> 
> You are not alone !
> 
> "BASW calls upon the Government to unequivocally direct children's
> social services departments to place their fundamental duty to uphold
> the right to family life before other considerations.  BASW calls for
> urgent intervention by the Children's Commissioner for England
> Professor Al Aynsley-Green"
> 
> Find out where you stand in relation to the law. Meet and discuss with
> a range of people the reality of what section 9 means, and send a
> clear message to the Home Office - Scrap Section 9 now !