London to become 'Olympic City of Sanctuary' for 2012

London joined 11 other UK cities in a making the commitment to become a 'City of Sanctuary' for people claiming refuge in the UK with a launch event at St Martin-in-the-Fields last week.

Sheffield became the first official City of Sanctuary in September 2007,with the support of Sheffield City Council and over 70 local organisations. Since then, the idea has spread rapidly, with new groups of local volunteers setting up in cities including Bristol, Swansea, Oxford, Leicester and Bradford.

London is the latest city to form its own group, with the ambitious aim of building a grassroots, city-wide movement of support for people seeking sanctuary in the capital. <!--break>Alexandra Feachem, from the London City of Sanctuary group, said, "Our ambition is to see thousands of London  organisations, from top businesses, football clubs and cultural institutions, to community groups and residents associations, all pledging their support for declaring London as an Olympic City of Sanctuary. Then for the Mayor and the GLA to take up the idea, so that by 2012 we see refugees at the heart of the Olympic Celebrations."

At the meeting on 12th November, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell spoke in support of the new movement from his own experience of supporting a refugee doctor who had been targeted by a death squad in Iraq for his sexuality. Neil Gerrard MP, also welcomed the initiative, as a way of bringing sanctuary for people who are persecuted back into the mainstream of British culture.

Craig Barnett, the national co-ordinator for the City of Sanctuary movement, encouraged Londoners to seize the opportunity to make a difference to the way the UK treats people in need of safety. "Cities are powerful," he said, "a whole city which is committed to offering sanctuary can't be ignored as just another lobby group. By building a network of Cities of Sanctuary across the country we can change the whole debate about refugees, and transform what is politically possible to improve the way we offer them safety and welcome."

Further information about the City of Sanctuary movement at: www.cityofsanctuary.org