A few weeks ago I went to a film night put on by Unchosen, an anti-trafficking charity. We watched an episode of Dispatches on 'Britain's secret slaves'.
This programme's shocking exposure of the cruel conditions and victimisation of domestic care workers made me feel aghast. The awful conditions and treatment that many domestic workers endure is outraging. There were numerous examples of individuals being paid less than 10p an hour for their labour and in even more extreme cases, the emotional and physical abuse they suffered at the hands of their 'employer'. I caption the word 'employer' because in these cases it really acquaints to slave master. Many of these individuals were emotionally bullied, threatened and actually physically harmed on an individual basis but also extended to their family and persons they care for.
An awful fact about these situations is that many of these 'employers' are actually 'good citizens' of society, such as doctors, and most terrifyingly of all are the instances in which diplomats are at the hands of such abhorrent acts. Diplomatic immunity within the law prevents any protection on behalf of the domestic workers and allows this injustice to continue.
The other major obstacle to the prevention and awareness of abusive domestic work scenarios is that they are so hidden and therefore makes identification almost unobtainable, on behalf of those seeking to stop this form of slavery and also in the case of the individual themselves, they are unlikely to realise that the form of treatment they are receiving is illegal. It is also very difficult to reach out to these individuals because of the high chance that there will be a language barrier because of international recruitment and also because of fear. Fear that they won't have anywhere to go, that they will be treated badly by the police and that they will be sent back to their original country. And the sad thing is this fear is justified. Many of those who are brave enough to face the UKs judicial system are likely to be treated as an illegal immigrant and then have 45 days to prove themselves, otherwise they are deported.
I'm not sure how this will be overcome with so many barriers to reaching those involved. There is some hope though. Charities such as Unchosen, Anti-slavery, Kalayaan and Afruca are all fighting against this injustice.
We all need to do our bit too though and increased awareness of this situation on the part of those outside of the situation can help those trapped inside, behind closed doors.
To see exactly what I am talking about, the episode of dispatches is online:
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/4od#3129534
Tuesday 26 April 2011
Wednesday 20 April 2011
Equality... Is it all a waste of time?
Last night, I got myself into a heated debate with a guy who doesn't believe in equality.
We were talking about my plans for when I graduate university and after telling him what field I plan to go into (ethnic equality work, particularly focusing on conflict resolution), I was brought face to face with one of the most difficult challenges I will face in the field.
He described my plan as pointless because in London there is no racism and that people shouldn't have to speak to someone of a different ethnicity if they don't want to.
I was dumbstruck. But tried to keep my cool and talk through the problems with him; that we should all be able to live together peacefully and get along.
There was no changing his mind though, he was 100% adamant that racism does not exist in London and there is no point to equality work because where the problem lies is with the government's welfare system. Which regarding the government, I had to give to him.
The government's system isn't flawless and does need work to ensure that all people are receiving what is necessary to meet basic living standards in the UK. He also highlighted that there are many people out there trying to con the system, which indisputably is a problem. Equal allocation of resources to those who are in need is difficult to ensure when there are individuals out there laying claim to more than what they are entitled.
However, as much as there are flaws in the government's system, it is a fair point. This however, is not a reason or an excuse to give up the fight for equality or to deny racism. Negative thought and the unwillingness to try to change things is what I could not understand. And which is part of the overall problem.
My main aim is to help lessen discrimination on the basis of one's ethnic identity. This I hope will be done by increasing the awareness of what every culture is about, so that everyone can understand and appreciate the array of cultures in British society, which do not lie at the heart of where they originate. Seeing the good within different cultures creates opportunities for others of different cultures to see what they have in common and can relate to. This common understanding of certain ways of life and acceptance of difference is what is needed for progression.
Being unable to see that, even after having a discussion about it, is the sort of negative thinking that results in backwards steps, away from integration.
My question is and to which he could not answer, why would you not want to get along with others?
We were talking about my plans for when I graduate university and after telling him what field I plan to go into (ethnic equality work, particularly focusing on conflict resolution), I was brought face to face with one of the most difficult challenges I will face in the field.
He described my plan as pointless because in London there is no racism and that people shouldn't have to speak to someone of a different ethnicity if they don't want to.
I was dumbstruck. But tried to keep my cool and talk through the problems with him; that we should all be able to live together peacefully and get along.
There was no changing his mind though, he was 100% adamant that racism does not exist in London and there is no point to equality work because where the problem lies is with the government's welfare system. Which regarding the government, I had to give to him.
The government's system isn't flawless and does need work to ensure that all people are receiving what is necessary to meet basic living standards in the UK. He also highlighted that there are many people out there trying to con the system, which indisputably is a problem. Equal allocation of resources to those who are in need is difficult to ensure when there are individuals out there laying claim to more than what they are entitled.
However, as much as there are flaws in the government's system, it is a fair point. This however, is not a reason or an excuse to give up the fight for equality or to deny racism. Negative thought and the unwillingness to try to change things is what I could not understand. And which is part of the overall problem.
My main aim is to help lessen discrimination on the basis of one's ethnic identity. This I hope will be done by increasing the awareness of what every culture is about, so that everyone can understand and appreciate the array of cultures in British society, which do not lie at the heart of where they originate. Seeing the good within different cultures creates opportunities for others of different cultures to see what they have in common and can relate to. This common understanding of certain ways of life and acceptance of difference is what is needed for progression.
Being unable to see that, even after having a discussion about it, is the sort of negative thinking that results in backwards steps, away from integration.
My question is and to which he could not answer, why would you not want to get along with others?
Sunday 10 April 2011
Far Away
After watching Marsha Ambrosius' song Far Away, it really hit home the amount of fear there is out there for what is unknown and the disastrous consequences it can have on some.
Although difference can be scary because it is not what we have been brought up to know, it is essential that we are all aware that although we are may have different aspects to our identity, these do not need to conflict.
No one consciously decides they want to put themselves at risk of losing their friends and family or to be hated by other members of society, and this is what we all need to bear in mind.
Certain things in life are not a choice and in the case of Marsha's video, sexuality certainly isn't. Having done my dissertation on gay men, I can confidently say that admitting in a heterosexual society that you are gay is a very difficult and turbulent time and not one which is taken upon lightly.
There is even debate amongst the gay community about what they would do if there was a pill they could take to make themselves straight. The fact that this discussion has even been brought about, which I can safely say, has not happened vice versa in heterosexual society, speaks for itself how much being of a certain sexual orientation is not a choice.
We should not judge others for what we are not because it could quite as easily have been us in the discriminated position and then I am sure we would all want to know we had the support of those around us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRwLMC2wP0g
Although difference can be scary because it is not what we have been brought up to know, it is essential that we are all aware that although we are may have different aspects to our identity, these do not need to conflict.
No one consciously decides they want to put themselves at risk of losing their friends and family or to be hated by other members of society, and this is what we all need to bear in mind.
Certain things in life are not a choice and in the case of Marsha's video, sexuality certainly isn't. Having done my dissertation on gay men, I can confidently say that admitting in a heterosexual society that you are gay is a very difficult and turbulent time and not one which is taken upon lightly.
There is even debate amongst the gay community about what they would do if there was a pill they could take to make themselves straight. The fact that this discussion has even been brought about, which I can safely say, has not happened vice versa in heterosexual society, speaks for itself how much being of a certain sexual orientation is not a choice.
We should not judge others for what we are not because it could quite as easily have been us in the discriminated position and then I am sure we would all want to know we had the support of those around us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRwLMC2wP0g
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