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Objet: [Fwd: Solidarity with Sans Papiers hunger-strike at  UNICEF

Solidarity with the Sans Papiers on hunger-strike at UNICEF

18.Apr.05 - 15 sans papiers of the 9th collective of Sans papiers in 
Paris have now been on hunger strike for 30 days !! In an occupation at 
the offices of the Unicef France. A decision was taken to occupy the 
Paris offices of UNICEF by the collective because of its silence in 
response in relation to the incarceration and expulsion of sans papiers 
children. The hunger strike was later decided upon in response to the 
accusation by the UNICEF that the Sans papiers were manipulating 
children in order to get attention focussed on their situation.

The following is a translation taken from their website from the 
original occupation:

"Today ultra-repressive laws are lead against sans-papiers. The 
children who until now haven't been spared are now even more greatly 
threatened. More and more frequently the police arrest children, as 
well as the unborn children of pregnant women, as well as children from 
primary and secondary schools to put them in detention with their 
parents and finally to be expelled . The detention of children so they 
can be escorted out of the country ; while these are certainly legal 
and political problems they are above all human. It is Against the 
Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by France. The 
conditions of life in these 'waiting zones' is also very disturbing . 
Foreign minors kept in waiting zones don't benefit at all from any 
specialised protection regime which ought to be implemented. 
(Interpretation problems and Inability to understand the procedures 
being applied. They are kept in inappopriate accomadation. Asylum 
claims are considered as manifestly unfounded. They are subjected to 
violence, abuse and moral abuse. The presence of foreign children and 
their parents at UNICEF since the 4th of March is the expression of an 
unbearable situation. The rights of children are being ignored and we 
are here to denounce this . We demand that Unicef whose primary 
function is the defence of the rights of children take an official 
position so that our children will be protected from deportations and 
the parents given their papers. We stay more than ever mobilise and 
determined in this struggle until there will be just satisfaction of 
demands, to be able to live in dignity."

Please take action wherever you are to condemn the silence of the 
UNICEF on the rights of refugee and migrant children and to show your 
solidarity for the bravery of the sans papiers who are in their 30th 
day of hungerstrike.

Contact UNICEF UK (and other national brunches of UNICEF) and make your 
feelings known

UNICEF London
Africa House
64-78 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6NB (Map)
Tel: 020 7405 5592
Fax: 020 7405 2332

----------------------------------
following a letter in solidarity with the sans papiers in hungerstrike 
(1) and a letter to UNICEF (2)
----------------------------------

(1) The Karawane für die Rechte der Flüchtlinge und 
MigrantInnen-Hamburg (Caravan for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants, 
Hamburg group) sends its solidarity to the Sans Papiers hunger 
strikers. We applaud your courage to take direct action against the 
inhumane treatment of children and the inability of a children´s rights 
defense group to respond effectively and adequately.

We emphathize with your struggle. In the last decade, the situation for 
refugees and migrants in Germany has been getting worse, not better. 
Indeed, throughout Europe racism, intolerance and heartlessness creates 
a Fortress Europe that cannot be penetrated. We joined your movement 
and others for the April 2 European-wide day of action, calling for 
Freedom of Movement and the Right to Stay. Within the context of 
debating immigration policies and as governments are encouraged to 
remove all repressive and unjust legislation from the books, let not 
human life and dignity - especially of the children- become casualties. 
When even our children fall victim to the repressive system, something 
drastic must be said and done. Who can close their hearts and eyes when 
the children are treated so?

UNICEF particularly should be ashamed of the inappropriateness of its 
action, and should move to make an immediate statement condemning 
deportation of children and inhumane treatment of imprisoned children 
in France.

We, too, remain determined in the struggle so that all human beings can 
exercise their right to live in dignity. Thank you, Sans Papiers, for 
everything that you do. You encourage and uplift us when we read about 
your actions; the Sans Papiers movement is an inspiration for all. We 
send our sincerest hope for the success of this campaign, for your 
health, and for your strength to carry on.

---------------------------------------

(2)
UNICEF London
Africa House
64-78 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6NB

To Whom it may concern:

We write with the sincerest hope that your minds and hearts will be 
opened in order that you may see the urgent plight of children in 
France, and to act in such a way as your conscience tells you. All 
human beings are responsible to uphold certain moral codes and 
standards. In our society, many of these are outlined in treaties and 
conventions, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which 
France has ratified. The world looks to UNICEF to uphold the rights of 
children, to come to their defense when in harms way.

We bring to your attention a disgraceful and unfortunate situation in 
need of your immediate intervention.

The Sans Papiers movement is currently on its 32nd day of a hunger 
strike, to call attention to unjust and repressive treatment of 
children by the French authorities, and to demand that UNICEF take an 
official position. We request that UNICEF speak with the Sans Papiers 
movement and move to meet all of its demands.

Please look at the primary concern: within the context of the 
incarceration and eventual expulsion of sans papiers children, the 
conditions during detention for the children are completely inhumane. 
According to a statement from the Sans Papiers movement, "Foreign 
minors kept in waiting zones don´t benefit at all from any speacialised 
protection regime which ought to be implemented." Additionally, the 
children are subjected to violence as well as physical and mental 
abuse.

It is in UNICEF´s mandate to respond to this situation, and we urge you 
to do so.

Without further ado as this situation requires your urgent attention,

The Karawane für die Rechte der Flüchtlinge und MigrantInnen- Hamburg
(Caravan for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants-Hamburg)

_____________________________________________
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