Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Safety, protection and hope?

Several Baptist ministers were part of a faith delegation to Calais with Citizens UK to challenge officials about the delays experienced by children with a legal right to be in the UK. Dan Pratt was among them

 


I found myself on a Eurostar train to Calais with six rabbis, an Islamic chair of a mosque, an Anglican bishop, Catholic priest and two Salvation Army officers last Friday (26 August). Representing the Baptist Union of Great Britain were four Baptist ministers, Penny Marsh, Nick Lear, Phil Warburton and myself. We were part of a faith delegation joining Citizens UK’s work in the so called Calais ‘Jungle’.

Earlier that week Citizens UK had threatened the UK government that as faith leaders we would transfer 14 eligible children to the UK. The UK government had been dragging their heels in permitting this transfer, even though the children had the legal documentation to permit them into the UK.

The consequence was that these children were stuck in the so called ‘Jungle’. Arriving in Calais the faith delegation learned that the Jungle is not a safe place, with five alleged murders the week before our arrival. Unaccompanied children are the most vulnerable, falling victim to abuse or trafficking. This threat of action, of we faith leaders transporting the children ourselves, caused the UK government to respond. They promised to secure the transfer of 14 children to the UK, as well as formal acceptance from the UK government that no child should wait more than two weeks for transfer following their case approved. This will mean for some children considerably less nights are spent in the Jungle. This in itself is a considerable victory!

Within the Jungle, Citizens UK compiled a list of 378 vulnerable children living in the Calais camp who have a legal right to be in the UK. These included 178 Dublin-eligible children, who have family connections in the UK, as well as 209 Dubs legislature eligible children, who were in the EU before 20 March without family. The fact that 378 vulnerable children are only 25 miles from Britain, living in dangerous and exploitative conditions is unacceptable.

This list eliminates the authority’s argument that they don’t know how many children are at risk and eligible for transfer to the UK. It also highlights the need for greater protection for these children. This will hopefully speed up the transfer of children.

Dividing into teams we went to the French Interior Ministry, the Mayor’s Office and Police Departments. The goal was to present each with a list of the 378 children. This puts the governments in the UK and France ‘on notice’. This was to increase the legal and political accountability of British and French governments and therefore provide more protection for the children.

Calais delegation500

My team went to the local Sous Préfecture (town council). We were accompanied by Samuel (name changed), a 15 year old boy from Eritrea who had spent two years travelling to Europe to be reunited with family in the UK. He has however been stuck in Calais with no way of getting into the UK except through being exploited by people traffickers.

At the Sous Préfecture, Samuel was able to present a short story of his situation along with the list of 378 children’s names, including his own.

Presenting the officials with his story, Samuel gave a small victorious smile. He was not alone. His story counted. Each of the 378 unaccompanied children has a story. Their stories have not ended.

How we respond to their stories as a nation and as individuals can dramatically effect the outcome of their stories. Will their stories be ones of safety, protection and hope? This is an opportunity for us to act; to stand in solidarity with these 378 children; to write to our MPs; to finance organisations such as Citizens UK and our Baptist Union's justice work among these children; and to pray for God’s protection and provision for these children.


Dan Pratt (pictured left) is a Baptist minister at 57 West in Southend



 
Baptist Times, 01/09/2016
    Post     Tweet
EBA Home Mission Stories
Examples of how Home Mission funds are being used in the Eastern Baptist Association
SubArticleD2019
Churches Together in King’s Lynn Peace and Justice Forum 2024: a positive step forward 
More than 45 people gathered at Cornerstone King’s Lynn Baptist Church for a day conference on peace and justice, the first of its kind for some years in West Norfolk
David Mayne appointed EBA Regional Minister Team Leader 
The General Meeting of the Eastern Baptist Association (EBA) voted to call David, Lead Pastor at Shoeburyness and Thorpe Bay Baptist Church in Essex, to serve as the new Regional Minister Team Leader for the Association
Churches come together as chaplains at Lowestoft festival
Ten chaplains volunteered their time to host a space where people could encounter the presence of God at the First Light Festival
'They changed an isolated, withdrawn old lady into one who feels ready to face the world'
Leigh Road Baptist Church is celebrating the first anniversary of the weekly drop-in space called 'Renew Wellbeing' in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Ipswich walker who forgot to change her shoes leans on church support  
A Baptist church member who has walked a total of 100km to raise money for Christian international development organisation Tearfund has paid tribute to her ‘amazing supportive church, family and friends.’
'We thought a closer partnership had potential' 
Two Baptist churches in Southend have decided to become one faith community seeking to reach out to others across the city
     Regional News 
    Posted: 20/12/2021
    Posted: 05/11/2021
    Posted: 03/06/2019
    Posted: 18/10/2018
    Posted: 03/10/2018
    Posted: 19/01/2018
    Posted: 20/10/2017
    Posted: 05/09/2017