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Run for Migrants Rights - 2012
10 February 2012
It is that time again - The Annual Flora Women’s Mini Marathon takes place on bank holiday Monday June 4, 2012 at 3:00 pm. We are calling on all women to walk, jog, run and raise funds for the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) this year.
How to Register:
Register on the event website or submit an entry form found in the Evening Herald. Registration opens on February 22nd, 2012. Entry forms and postal information will appear in the Evening Herald on Wednesday February 22nd, 2012. The registration fee is €17. Online entries will incur an extra 1 Euro bankprocessing charge.
This is a very popular event and places fill up quickly, so please try to register early.
After you have Registered for the Marathon, Contact MRCI:
Get your sponsorship card or set up your online sponsorship page, fundraising toolkit, and free MRCI T-shirt. Please contact Mishael at mishael@mrci.ie or call 01-889-7112.
Why Support MRCI? By participating and raising funds for MRCI, you’ll be enabling us to continue to promote the empowerment and inclusion of those migrant workers and their families at risk of poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.
Learn how your support changed Thoya's life. Thoya was a teenager when she was trafficked into Ireland for forced labour. Her typical workday began at 5:30 a.m. and finished around 12am. Sometimes, she had to work until 2am. She worked for her employer for three years and was confined to the house; contact with her family was strictly controlled. Thoya received no payment for the three years that she worked instead her employer promised to send money to her family; only a fraction of this promised amount was ever sent. A visitor to the house noticed she was in distress and they contacted MRCI. MRCI then took action and rescued her from her situation of modern day slavery. MRCI liaised with the Gardaí and she is now in safe accommodation. Thoya is now studying community development and has become empowered though her participation in the Domestic Workers Action Group that MRCI runs. This year support Thoya and hundreds of other exploited domestic workers by running and raising funds.
€15 provides one hour of language translation in a legal case advocating for worker rights.
€25 ensures a domestic worker has a safe collective space to mobilise on domestic worker issues.
€50 can provide information and advice to a vulnerable migrant in our Resource Centre.
€100 gives a victim of forced labour an emergency pack including a phone card, food and transport costs.
€500 can provide leadership training to an emerging migrant leader.
€1000 can help a person get justice.
Primetime highlights need for action on modern day slavery
3 February 2012
Primetime highlights the lack of protections for victims of forced labour and the urgent need for the government to address gaps in legislation which leave victims living in limbo for many years. Speaking on Primetime, David Stanton, TD & Chairperson of the Committee for Justice, Equality and Defence said forced labour was ‘evil and needs to be stamped out'. He said that the government was taking it very seriously and ‘will act with urgency' when Minister Shatter receives a report on forced labour shortly.
Mohammad Younis a member of MRCI's Forced Labour Action Group spoke about his experiences and his ongoing struggle to receive justice.
Click here to see video @ 12.45
Join Us
Protest takes place outside Poppadom Restaurant, Clondalkin, Thursday 9 February at 6.30pm.
Support our work
The story of Muhammad Younis is one of many. MRCI has supported 169 victims of forced labour to date. More victims are coming forward. It costs £1,000 to support and demand justice for every victim of forced labour. You can help us eradicate modern-day slavery, to donate click here.
Support MRCI & See David Pomeranz Live
27 January 2012
You can support MRCI by attending David Pomeranz's concert. Partial proceeds from ticket sales enable MRCI to continue to promote the empowerment and inclusion of those migrant workers and their families at risk of poverty, social exclusion and discrimination. Spread the word to your family, friends, and colleagues. We hope to see you there and thank you for making our work possible.
How to get there:
Dublin Bus: Dublin City to Firhouse Rd. Tallaght No.49 Bus from Eden Quay, get off at Firhouse Rd. Tallaght
Luas Red Line: Abbey St. or Jervis Station to Square Tallaght & hop on the 75 or 49 Bus from Tallaght Square Shopping Center carpark to Firhouse
Ó Ríordáin & Dowds call for legislation to combat forced labour
18 January 2012
Deputies Aodhán O' Riordan, TD and Robert Dowds TD, led a Dáil debate on forced labour, a form of modern day slavery and called on Minister Alan Shatter to introduce a law to criminalise forced labour as a matter of urgency.
See Dail Debate below
Regularisation Wins Support from South Dublin County Council
17 January 2012
South Dublin County Council unanimously passed a motion on Monday 16th January to support the introduction for an Earned Regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants in Ireland.
Councillor Dermot Looney, who put forward the motion, highlighted that two of the largest authorities in the country have unanimously supported this scheme. These motions are calling on the government to act with haste to introduce a solution for undocumented migrants. Click here to view Cllr Looney's Press release.
Justice for the Undocumented March
19 December 2011
The Irish Times Editorial (20 Dec 2011) Fair Play for Migrants
The Irish Times (19 Dec 2011) Regular status for migrants sought
March Gives Hope To The Undocumented
Christmastime hard on separated undocumented families
Hundreds of undocumented migrants, their families and supporters marched by candlelight to Dáil Éireann this afternoon on the eve of UN International Migrant to highlight the plight of the estimated 30,000 undocumented migrants living in Ireland. The march was led by a giant banner with ‘Justice for Undocumented' written in Christmas lights and marchers holding giant stars saying ‘Santa is Undocumented too!' The march was organised by the Justice for the Undocumented Campaign which is calling on the Irish Government and Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, TD, to introduce an Earned Regularisation Scheme which would give those who are undocumented in Ireland the opportunity to legalise their immigration status.
"Undocumented people live in under tremendous fear of deportation and have taken a great risk to be here today," said Edel McGinley, Campaign Co-ordinator with the MRCI. "We are calling on the Government to provide a solution similar to the one the Irish government has been advocating for the Irish undocumented in the US. It's time the government put its money where its mouth is and showed the same commitment in solving the undocumented crisis here."
Speaking at the march, Jayson Montenegro, originally from the Philippines who has been living undocumented in Ireland for nearly eight years stated, "I haven't seen my children in over eight years. Every year it gets harder, especially at Christmas. They ask me on the phone ‘Daddy, when are you coming to see us?' It breaks my heart. He went onto say "the spirit of Christmas however is not only an ordinary occasion; it gives us hope, understanding and unity. I wish that in the future no family is separated from their loved ones. I hope that the government can help us find a way".
Justice for the Undocumented Campaign member, Champika Wanniarachchi, a Sri Lankan woman living undocumented for nine years with her sixteen year-old daughter who was recently ranked in the top 5% academically of all students in Ireland, spoke at the march. She told the crowd that, "I worry about my daughter's future. What will happen to her when she wants to go to University? I want her to have a great life but I am really fearful for her future and that she won't get that chance because she is undocumented."
Dublin City Councillors were also recognised during the march for their recent December 6th motion to support undocumented migrants which the Council passed unanimously. Councillor Rebecca Moynihan, the proposer of the DCC motion stated, "It would be disingenuous of us to support a similar campaign for Irish undocumented in the US while not extending the same consideration to undocumented migrants living in Ireland."
Text of the recent motion passed by Dublin City Council: 6 December 2011
This Council supports the undocumented Irish campaign in the US to introduce an earned regularisation scheme. This Council also notes with concern the high numbers of undocumented families and children living in Ireland without rights and under tremendous stress and fear. This Council supports the introduction of an earned regularisation scheme in Ireland, based on criteria set down by the Department of Justice, so that undocumented migrants living in Ireland can participate fully in the social, political and economic affairs of the country. This Council asks that the Minister for Justice be written to upon the passing of this motion to inform him of Dublin City Council's support for an earned regularisation scheme.
Click here for more Information on the Justice for the Undocumented Campaign
Solidarity March for the Undocumented
7 December 2011
Dublin City Council Pass Motion to Support Regularisation of Undocumented Migrants
6 December 2011
Dublin City Council unanimously passed a motion on Monday 6th December to support the introduction for an Earned Regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants in Ireland.
The motion introduced by Councillor Rebecca Moynihan drew cross part support and deemed to practical and reasonable solution.
Councillors acknowledged the plight of undocumented migrants, in particular children and the need to uphold human rights in Ireland and to remember the undocumented Irish in other parts of the world.
Please click here to see the debate 
Text of the motion passed by Dublin City Council:
This Council supports the undocumented Irish campaign in the US to introduce an earned regularisation scheme. This Council also notes with concern the high numbers of undocumented families and children living in Ireland without rights and under tremendous stress and fear. This Council supports the introduction of an earned regularisation scheme in Ireland, based on criteria set down by the Department of Justice, so that undocumented migrants living in Ireland can participate fully in the social, political and economic affairs of the country. This Council asks that the Minister for Justice be written to upon the passing of this motion to inform him of Dublin City Council's support for an earned regularisation scheme.
MRCI Demands Law to Protect Victims of Forced Labour in Ireland
5 December 2011
Marking International Day for the Abolition of Slavery MRCI's Forced Labour Action Group staged a demonstration at the delay of the government in addressing the problem of forced labour.
MRCI is calling on Minister Alan Shatter to recognize forced labour as a crime so that victims can be protected.
Forced labour is an extreme form of exploitation and involves deception, coercion, threats or actual physical harm, and debt bondage. It is a growing problem in Ireland. MRCI has dealt with 160 cases of forced labour over the last six years and this is only the tip of the ice berg.
At the event the Labour Party announced that they will be putting forward legislation on forced labour in the Dáil to address any loopholes in the law and make forced labour a crime.
See short video about MRCI protest outside Dail on 2 December 2011.
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE PROTEST
The Irish Times (2 Dec 2011) Labour looks to UK on 'slavery' law
RTE (2 Dec 2011) Govt urged over forced labour legislation
SIPTU (2 Dec 2011) Victims of forced labour call for laws to halt the practice
Undocumented Migrants Send Message to EU Fundamental Rights Agency Conference 2011
24 November 2011
Members of the 'Justice for the Undocumented' campaign group congratulate FRA for advancing the rights of undocumented migrants within the EU. They call for the promotion of regularisation to realise the fundemental rights of undocumented migrants. Please click here to view their message
The Fundamental Rights Conference brought together policy-makers, experts and human rights defenders to examine key fundamental rights challenges and develop courses of action that better guarantee the protection of irregular migrants.