In response to figures showing that a record 79.5 million people are now forcibly displaced worldwide, JCORE has launched an international Jewish manifesto outlining twelve actions that governments across the world must take for refugees and asylum seekers in the next year. 

 

These include urging wealthier countries to take greater responsibility for refugee resettlement, calling for an end to the vilification of refugees and condemning the practice of immigration detention for minors.

The manifesto calls for governments worldwide to

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1. Protect asylum seekers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
2. Commit to future international measures to protect people displaced by climate change.
3. Treat asylum seekers, refugees and those who support them with dignity.
4. Ensure that safe and legal routes are available to asylum seekers and refugees.
5. Provide fair, timely and transparent asylum systems.
6. Commit to a settlement program for unaccompanied child refugees.
7. Take greater responsibility for refugee resettlement.
8. Protect asylum seekers from abuse, exploitation and unjust treatment.
9. Ensure that child refugees have the right to education.
10. Ensure that asylum seekers and refugees are housed in safe, sanitary and suitable accommodation.
11. Stop deporting asylum seekers to unsafe locations.
12. End the detention of underage asylum seekers.

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Take action

CLICK HERE to sign and endorse the manifesto as an organization.

Download a PDF copy for further details and information on how your community can get involved with the campaign.

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Manifesto point four: Ensure that safe and legal routes are available to asylum seekers and refugees, March 2021. Suggested community actions:

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Campaign for safe routes: Find out what routes are available for refugees to reach your country, and take action if your government could be doing more.

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Reflect and advocate: Consider the parallels between the exodus and the journeys of refugees today. Join with others in your community to ensure that once refugees reach safety in our countries, they can live in freedom and dignity.

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Resources

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• Social media banners in support of this month's theme

• Haggadah supplement, reflecting on the parallels between the exodus and the journeys of refugees today

Further resources and sources of information

The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is a great source for global information, research and reports. UNHCR have personnel in 135 countries worldwide. Find out about their work in your country.

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Many Jewish organisations such as HIAS and World Jewish Relief also provide global or international support to refugees.

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CLICK HERE to download a list of organisations working to support refugees and asylum seekers around the world.

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This manifesto has been endorsed by

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• Anne Frank Trust UK (United Kingdom)

• The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) (United Kingdom)

• A Wider Bridge (United States, Canada and Israel)

• BBYO UK and Ireland (United Kingdom and Ireland)

• BINA - The Jewish Movement for Social Change (Israel and global)

• Board of Deputies of British Jews (United Kingdom)

• Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors (United Kingdom)

• European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) (Operate in 36 countries across Europe)

• FZY (United Kingdom)

• Habonim Dror (United Kingdom)

• HIAS (Headquarters in the United States, operate in 16 countries worldwide)

• The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants (Israel)

• The Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE) (United Kingdom)

• Jewish Family Service of Seattle (United States)

• Jewish Labour Movement (United Kingdom)

• JVS (United Kingdom)

• Liberal Judaism (United Kingdom)

• Leo Baeck College (United Kingdom)

• LJY-Netzer (United Kingdom)

• Masorti Judaism (United Kingdom)

• NATAN-International Humanitarian Aid (Headquarters in Israel, operate worldwide)

• New Israel Fund (United Kingdom)

• OLAM (Global)

• ORT UK (United Kingdom)

• Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish relations, University of Southampton (United Kingdom)

• Reform Judaism (United Kingdom)

• René Cassin, the Jewish voice for human rights (United Kingdom)

• Right Now: Advocates for Asylum Seekers in Israel (Israel and global)

• RSY-Netzer (United Kingdom)

• S&P Sephardi Community (United Kingdom)

• Shalom Alaikum - Jewish Aid for Refugees (Austria)

• Tzedek (United Kingdom, Ghana and India)

• Union des Étudiants Juifs de Belgique (UEJB, or the Belgian Union of Jewish Students) (Belgium)

• Union of Jewish Students (UJS) (United Kingdom)

• Yahel Israel (Israel)

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Past campaign resources

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• Tu Bishvat resource, exploring the impact of climate change on forced displacement. Download a PDF copy here. (January 2021).

• Purim resource, which addresses five common myths and misconceptions about refugees and asylum seekers. Download a PDF copy here. (February 2021)