Briefing NotesObjectives The overall aim of the core lessons is to contextualise the issues of asylum and refugees. Students should gain some idea of:international rights and responsibilitiesthe gap between some myths and fact the impact on individuals of seeking asylum International Rights and ResponsibilitiesRefugees are recognised in international conventions and treaties and have specific rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, established the rights of all people to seek asylum from persecution. In 1951 the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established. Britain has agreed to this and subsequent agreements, clarifying the rights of refugees. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees' website www.unhcr.ch has copies of all relevant documents, up-to-date statistics and information about specific areas and issues.The Gap between some Myths and FactThroughout history there have been many myths about refugees and asylum seekers. Their vulnerable position in society and the often different cultural traditions they represent have frequently led people to label them as outsiders and to be suspicious of their presence. At the same time there is a rich history of refugees finding safety in the UK, for example from the Nazis in Germany in the 1930s and from the Nationalist government in Uganda in the 1970s. Many people who have arrived as refugees have settled and made valuable contributions to the cultural and economic life of Britain (there are some examples below). Many others have been able to return home as it becomes safe to do so. It is important that young people are able to draw their own conclusions about refugees and asylum seekers in Britain and this entails the opportunity to recognise and examine the myths critically.The following MORI survey¹ provides some interesting points to discuss in this regard:Respondents estimated that 20% of Britain's population are immigrants, whereas the actual figure is 4% Respondents' average estimate of the financial aid asylum seekers receive was £113 a week. At the time of the survey an adult asylum seeker was entitled to claim £36.54 a week in vouchers, £10 of which could be drawn in cash. On average, respondents thought 26% of the population belong to a minority ethnic group. The actual figure is 7%.Of the respondents, 66% felt there were too many immigrants in Britain (an 11% rise on the year before) Of the respondents, 63% believed too much was done to help immigrants. There are big regional differences: the figure for London is 39%, whilst in the north-east it is 75%.Further details and information about myths and myth-busting appear on the Refugee Council website www.refugeecouncil.org.ukThe Impact of Seeking Asylum on IndividualsIt is important to emphasise the personal dimension to the experience of seeking asylum. Looking only at the facts and figures and global issues can dehumanise the topic if this is not accompanied by personal stories and testimony. This section includes some examples of real-case summaries and a story to trace some of the possible events which could be experienced by an asylum seeker. Another useful resource is the African Voices series from the Minority Rights Group (MRG)², which includes stories from young people, photographs and text in their first language and English. The website www.unhcr.ch/teach/teach.htm has free teaching resources looking at the reasons why people flee their homes.Some examples of famous refugees may help to combat the myth that refugees are a burden:³ Michael Marks - founder of Marks and Spencer Sir Montague Burton - founder of Burton storesSir Ernst Chain - biochemist, researched penicillin Joseph Rotblat - physicist and Nobel Peace Prize winnerRabbi Hugo Gryn - leading rabbiSir Karl Popper - philosopherManubhai Madhvani - Ugandan businessman, worth £140 millionPaul Hamlyn - publisher, established Hamlyn Foundation with £60 millionAnd a talented family:Victor Ehrenberg - eminent historian from CzechoslovakiaLewis Elton (his son) - professor of higher educationBen Elton (his grandson) - comedian and novelist Notes1. Information taken from Reader's Digest, October 2000. 2. Each of the four books in the MRG's African Voices series covers information on the focus country: Sudan, Angola, Uganda and Zaire. Other resources from MRG cover Eritrea, Somalia and Kurdistan, and there is also a new book on young people's experiences Forging new Identities. 3. This list has been adapted from Credit to the Nation: A Study of Refugees in the United Kingdom by the Refugee Council, 1997.