MP calls on colleagues to give up their toys

MPs have been asked in an Early Day Motion to donate toys to refugee children in a grassroots campaign against new government legislation which will deprive the children of asylum seekers of play things.

The campaign started afte Freedom from Torture pointed out that draconian measures in regulations made under the Immigration and Asylum Act which comes into effect next Monday [April 3, 2000] would seriously affect children.

The regulations decree toys as not being essential living items, and therefore not to be provided for under new support arrangements. In addition if charities or other groups provide toys directly to families in need, the value of this support could be deducted from the families' weekly living allowance which covers items like food and clothing.

In the only move left open to them, children's charities, aid organisations, and concerned individuals began posting toys directly to the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) - the government body responsible for refugees and asylum seekers, so that children would not miss out.

Today [03.31.00] Neil Gerrard MP, Chair of the All-Party Group on Refugees, tabled in Parliament Early Day Motion 587 - Children of Asylum Seekers. It calls on the House to recognise that the regulations are in conflict with Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which guarantees the right to engage in play and recreational activities.

Mr Gerrard noted that many children's organisations are now collecting toys to be given to the children of asylum seekers and asks his fellow politicians to do their bit urging "all Honourable Members to support the collections and themselves to donate a toy".

Freedom from Torture, which works with child refugees who have survived torture and organised violence, says toys and reading materials are a vital learning resource, and that children are being unfairly punished.

"These children have suffered so many fragmentations and dislocations in their lives, including violence, exile and bereavement. More than any other children, they need play to help them develop and grow," says Freedom from Torture advocacy officer Alison Harvey.