The VOICE Refugee Forum - Celebrating Ten Years of active resistance.
In October this year, The VOICE Refugee Forum will be celebrating its tenth year anniversary. Founded in 1994 by four African refugees in Jena, it was aimed at fighting against discrimination and racism as well as against the deplorable and inhuman conditions which refugees were (and are still) subjected to in Thüringen and
Germany in general. This was against the background that refugee rights are continuously trampled upon or completely denied by state officials including the police.
Originally starting as The VOICE Africa Forum, it became the first point of call for all refugees posted to Thüringen. In Jena, Thüringen The VOICE quickly established a strong reputation in anti-racism as it served to inform and enlighten refugees, mobilised and motivated refugees to stand up against the racist laws and created a
platform upon which refugees from various countries could air their opinions and speak about their problems.
In cooperation with different humanright groups and anti-racist Initiatives and Networks as well as playing a major role in the Caravan-for the rights of refugees and migrants, The VOICE has remained consisitent in its fight against discrimination and racism, for respect of the rights of refugees and migrants since its foundation.
Since the refugee and migrant congress in Jena 2000, The VOICE under the auspices of the Caravan has been at the forefront in the campaign against the "residenzpflicht".Some of its members are now threatened and sure to be imprisoned as a result of their resistance against this apartheid racist law in Germany.
The 10 years anniversary celebrations of The VOICE will be marked with a three-day socio-cultural and political events from Thu. 14th – Sat. 16th October, 2004 in Berlin. Once again, we shall be focusing on the refugee right to freedom of movement. To this end, we are inviting political activists from South Africa who were involved in the fight against the apartheid pass law in South Africa to discuss and compare what obtained in apartheid South Africa with the lack of freedom of movement for refugees in Germany.
As Germany is the only country in Europe which operates this law, we intend to invite some European Parliamentarians to join in this discussions and explore ways for its abolition. This will be viewed against the background of refugee self-engagement and resistance against this law since the last several years.
The Brothers Keepers (with different artists) locally and internationally renowned for its anti-racist engagement will be staging a solidarity concert and performance on Saturday 16th October at SO36, Berlin-Kreuzberg in support for freedom of movement for all refugees in Germany.
We call on all friends, comrades, supporters and sympathisers to rally behind these efforts to make this occasion a memorable one in our fight to restore our human dignity in Germany.
Thanks,
Sunny Omwenyeke
The VOICE Refugee Forum.
N.B Programm of events will be announced.