Since September last year GAMIAN-Europe (GE) has been advocating for political and practical attention with respect to the mental health of asylum seekers and their access to services. GE regional seminar in March addressed this topic and on this occasion, we gained the support of Thomas Zdechovsky MEP: he was found willing to table a Written Declaration on this topic.
A Written Declaration is a tool that Members of the European Parliament have to underline their interest in and the need for action for a certain topic. It needs the support of the majority of Members in order to become adopted as a formal Parliamentary document.
This Written Declaration was prepared as it is felt that there is too little awareness of and attention for the mental health risks and challenges faced by asylum seekers being traumatized by the situation they are fleeing from, the threats and horrors faced on their journey to the destination countries and the rejection and lack of inclusion and opportunities (in many cases) when arriving in their destination countries. Policymakers across the EU aware should be more of the fact that this is a real and serious issue which needs to be taken into account in any effort to address the situation of asylum seekers and their integration in their host countries and communities.
GAMIAN-Europe needs your support with getting the Written Declaration formally adopted: we would like to urge you to write to the Members of the European Parliament from your countries to call on them to sign the Written Declaration by completing this form. Please help us get the support we need – It will only take a few minutes of your time!
Find below the Written Declaration no. 82/2016 in EU languages:
BG
CS
DA
DE
EL
EN
ES
ET
FI
FR
HR
HU
IT
LV
LT
MT
NL
PL
PT
RO
SK
SL
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Written Declaration opens for signatures on 12.9.2016 and closes on 12.12.2016.
To get the emails addresses of the MEPs from your countries: please contact Nigel Olisa (executive.director@gamian.eu) or Christine Marking (eu.liaison@gamian.eu)