Survivors Speak OUT members reflect on poverty report launch

From guiding the research as part of the project advisory panel, right up to leading the debate around the launch of the report in the Houses of Parliament last week, SSO has been an integral part of the 'Poverty Barrier' project from the beginning. Here, long-time SSO members Serge and Kolbassia look back over the launch itself and reflect on its importance for the network, and for survivors everywhere.

We would personally list the launch of Freedom from Torture's The Poverty Barrier report as one of the finest moments in the Survivors Speak OUT (SSO) network's history, in terms of our ability to work together to deliver a set of recommendations developed by network members.

For some of us, it was the first time we set foot in the historical landmark that is the House of Commons, with Big Ben towering above all of us as if to say, 'I am looking over you and everything will be alright'. Were we nervous? Yes we were, but we had that little voice that is always telling us that everything is going to be okay. It turns out that voice was wrong - everything was fantastic.

For SSO, this event was always about creating a positive change and we were happy to see the room was filled with policy experts, policy makers, MPs, peers, civil servants and other human rights organisations. We hope they have learned a great deal of knowledge that they can take into their work and find a way to change survivors of torture lives for the better.

The event was just as much a space for policy dialogue as for launching the report, and we were there to insert ourselves into the debate and direct the discussion based on our first-hand experience of the poverty created by the UK's asylum system. Above all, the energy in the room had a positive feeling - a feeling that all together we can change things and are responsible if we want to create a change.

We had been involved in this project from day one, as experts providing direction and guidance on this research. Now, over a year later here we were talking to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Méndez, and the chair of the event, Channel 4 anchor Jon Snow, discussing solutions that if implemented could prevent survivors of torture being pushed deeper into poverty and suffering further trauma. Amongst our recommendations, we called for improved housing conditions for survivors of torture; appropriate safeguards to prevent destitution; access to training and education to increase skills lost after waiting years for asylum; support and advice to newly granted refugees; an end to cashless support; an increase in the levels of asylum support so that essential needs are met; and the right to work.

Let's hope that this event, and the voices of SSO and Freedom from Torture together, can ignite a dramatic but positive change in the asylum support system for the whole of the asylum community based in the United Kingdom.

This is what SSO network members had to say about the event:

"As soon as Jon Snow appeared in the room I was nervous. I've watched him on the news and he appears to be someone who is tough and no-nonsense. But we were introduced and I was shocked that he was so friendly. He was a different person to the one I see every day on the tv.

Listening to policy makers and members of Parliament it appears that they are revising the way in which they operate and that they recognise the importance of having survivor involvement in decision-making. I think this is a key to the success of policies and will ease a lot of suffering. Listening to SSO members sharing the floor space and confidently leading the discussion gave us all a real sense of achievement. I certainly learned a lot and I hope that a vision from survivors also gave people a lot to think about. People talk about empowerment - for me this was it.

It was so important for SSO to be in the room. People listened, we were discussing, it was a respectful space and a big boost for any rehabilitation route.At the end of the event I got the chance to speak to many people including Juan Méndez. The key message that I took from him was that 'the platform is yours so make sure you use it any time the opportunity arises. This is the way to make change'. I had met him the year before and we spoke about change taking time and happening slowly. For SSO, we will use every platform and we are in this for the long run."