Lara Hawkins
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larahawkins.bsky.social
Lara Hawkins
@larahawkins.bsky.social
97 followers 290 following 14 posts
Media @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social
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Reposted by Lara Hawkins
aljwhite.bsky.social
New YouGov polling. A monumental failure of our political class to educate, a monumental failure of our media to report fairly, for a generation
47% of people think immigration is primarily illegal. There were 4% irregular arrivals in March
August 5, 2025 at 6:27 AM
larahawkins.bsky.social
“It’s not an easy system, and I think what’s going to happen is that it’s going to become even more complicated. I’m worried it’s going to become even harder.”

@freedomfromtorture.bsky.social is sounding the alarm about the impact disability benefits cuts will have on survivors of torture 👇
April 10, 2025 at 9:41 AM
larahawkins.bsky.social
"We want to keep our children safe."

The Gov itself has said the new Borders Bill could criminalise parents who make the unbearably difficult decision to bring their children on dangerous journeys to reach safety in the UK.

Vital reporting 👇🏻

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Call for protection to stop parents being ‘punished’ over Channel crossings
The endangerment offence as part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill has been described as ‘ill-defined’.
www.independent.co.uk
April 6, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
freemovement.bsky.social
In case you missed it: Court of Appeal confirms Home Office must consult Medical Justice on immigration detention policy | Sonia Lenegan
Court of Appeal confirms Home Office must consult Medical Justice on immigration detention policy - Free Movement
The Home Secretary has been only partially successful in the Court of Appeal in relation to Medical Justice's challenge to the introduction of a policy
freemovement.org.uk
March 25, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
helenbamber.bsky.social
🚨 In a judgment today, the High Court has found that the government acted unlawfully in accommodating three victims of trafficking, torture & other extreme human cruelty in the asylum camp at RAF Wethersfield.

www.helenbamber.org/resources/la...
March 14, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
bylinetimes.bsky.social
🔴UK Universities Accused of Training Police and Security Officers for Repressive Foreign Dictatorships Without Screening Students

Almost no checks are in place to ensure training is not used to clamp down on human rights and peaceful dissent, say campaigners

bylinetimes.com/2025/02/18/u...
UK Universities Accused of Training Police and Security Officers for Repressive Foreign Dictatorships Without Screening Students
Almost no checks are in place to ensure training is not used to clamp down on human rights and peaceful dissent, say campaigners
bylinetimes.com
February 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
bylinepodcast.bsky.social
"Is #KeirStarmer cosplaying #Farage ?"

@goldbergradio.bsky.social discusses 'tough' #Labour migration stance with torture survivor and refugee Kolbassia @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social

From @bylinetimes.bsky.social

pod.fo/e/2acb0b
Byline Podcast: Vote Labour, Get....Reform????
Adrian Goldberg talks to Kolbassia Haoussou, from Freedom From Torture - a former refugee - about government guidance stating that any asylum seeker who arrives in the UK on a 'dangerous journey', ...
pod.fo
February 16, 2025 at 5:29 PM
larahawkins.bsky.social
'A simulation of a small boat crossing can never truly convey the unpredictability and the danger of what that journey actually feels like. Whatever happens they’ll get to go home to their families in one piece.'

✍️Kolbassia Haoussou @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social 👇
February 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
freedomfromtorture.bsky.social
BREAKING: Today the Labour Government announced their new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

Keir Starmer said he wants to tackle the problems in our asylum system but Labour’s new bill will do NOTHING to address the root causes of forced displacement.

www.aol.co.uk/criminal-off...
New criminal offences to disrupt people smugglers set out in border Bill
The Government is expected to seek to bring the measures into force as soon as possible once the legislation is approved by MPs and Lords.
www.aol.co.uk
January 30, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
theferret.scot
“I lost myself and my sense of existence.” Sana, a Kurdish refugee in Glasgow, survived years of domestic violence and torture. Now, she’s rebuilding her life — and advocating for change with @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social’s Women Together group.

Read our article: bit.ly/4atDiZS
A refugee called Sana, at Freedom from Torture's centre in Glasgow, is standing by a window, wearing a hijab, scarf, and a ribbed sweater. Her back is turned as she looks out at a modern building complex. A small Scottish flag is placed on the windowsill.
January 26, 2025 at 9:50 AM
larahawkins.bsky.social
✍️ "His re-election may be seen as a green light by torturing states around the world, and we should all be very concerned."

@freedomfromtorture.bsky.social Head of Accountability explains 👇
January 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
larahawkins.bsky.social
“We know only too well that cracking down on the methods refugees use to escape persecution, instead of holding states accountable for their failure to protect their own people, only serves to make the journeys more dangerous for the refugees involved.”

@freedomfromtorture.bsky.social 👇
lizziedearden.bsky.social Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · Jan 14
The government has vowed to “smash the gangs” behind small boat crossings with a new sanctions regime targeting people smugglers

But officials and experts have raised doubts that the scheme will reduce numbers arriving over the Channel or have a significant impact
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Inside the Home Office as mistrust grows over Labour’s small boats plan
Officials and experts see a major flaw in the drive to sanction people smugglers
inews.co.uk
January 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
larahawkins.bsky.social
While torture continues & safe routes remain inadequate, refugees will try to find safety.

Smugglers will simply adapt to these new measures to provide their services to desperate people.

@freedomfromtorture.bsky.social @silereynolds.bsky.social explains👇

morningstaronline.co.uk/article/smug...
Smuggling gangs will ‘simply adapt’ to Labour's new sanctions, experts say
morningstaronline.co.uk
January 10, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
adambienkov.bsky.social
Not a single Reform MP has bothered to turn up to today's House of Commons debate on tackling violence against women and girls
January 9, 2025 at 2:21 PM
larahawkins.bsky.social
"Things got so bad that she never left her room and even considered suicide."

Living in unsafe accommodation makes the hard work of rebuilding your life after surviving torture almost impossible.

✍🏻 Senior Psychological Therapist @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social

www.bigissue.com/opinion/free...
Asylum hotels remind refugees of being detained. Let's do better
Living in unsafe asylum hotels makes rebuilding a life after surviving torture almost impossible, writes Freedom from Torture's Emine Yoca.
www.bigissue.com
December 30, 2024 at 9:52 AM
larahawkins.bsky.social
"Writing for me has enabled me to unmute my voice and share my experiences, without plunging me back into depression or nightmares... Being a survivor in the UK is hard."

✍🏻Tanya a member of Write to Life @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social

www.bigissue.com/opinion/free...
I'm a survivor of torture in the UK. Writing is helping me heal
Tanya was a teacher back home, and fled torture. After claiming asylum in the UK, creative writing is helping her to heal.
www.bigissue.com
December 28, 2024 at 11:16 AM
larahawkins.bsky.social
"The aim of torture is to break a human being, is to dehumanise somebody, almost strip away their humanity and their very self."

@freedomfromtorture.bsky.social therapist talks to @bbcworldservice.bsky.social about the agony & impact of torture. Listen from 06.25👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Newshour - Syria: life after prison - BBC Sounds
How will former detainees adjust to normal life?
www.bbc.co.uk
December 13, 2024 at 11:52 AM
larahawkins.bsky.social
In @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social therapy rooms, our therapists bear witness to the agony that so many have suffered.

The impact of torture that Syrian survivors have endured continues to cast a long & painful shadow over their lives, even many years after.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Syrians in UK fearful of returning despite Assad exile amid fears of civil war
Mazen Gharibah, chief executive of the Syrian British Consortium, said until there are inclusive elections, most UK-based Syrians will be fearful of returning to their homeland
www.mirror.co.uk
December 11, 2024 at 8:27 AM
larahawkins.bsky.social
When 1 in 3 people who are arriving in countries like the UK are estimated to have experienced torture, they deserve our compassion & support.

It's never been more critical for the UK to stand up and say that torture is always wrong & will never be tolerated.

Survivor Kolbassia writes why 👇🏻
December 10, 2024 at 8:54 PM
larahawkins.bsky.social
This is really alarming. If quality is sacrificed for efficiency, then we risk sending survivors back to torture.

Thanks to @lizziedearden.bsky.social for raising this urgent issue.

@silereynolds.bsky.social Head of Asylum Advocacy @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social explains 👇
lizziedearden.bsky.social Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · Dec 8
Revealed: Only half of checked asylum decisions now meet the Home Office's internal quality standards

Figures have plummeted after processing shortcuts were introduced for Rishi Sunak’s backlog pledge, and appeals are rocketing
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
Home Office says only half of UK asylum decisions meet its quality standards
Rishi Sunak’s push to clear backlog of claims is driving huge increase in legal appeals, costs and harm to applicants
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2024 at 9:54 AM
larahawkins.bsky.social
For the survivors of torture who suffered needlessly with the threat of Rwanda hanging over their heads for years, the cost of this cruel scheme on their mental health and recovery can't be measured in pounds.

That is the true, utterly shameful legacy of this inhumane plan.
bigissue.com Big Issue @bigissue.com · Dec 3
The Labour government has shamed the Conservatives for spending more than £700m of taxpayer money on a failed plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. 🛫

Figures published by the Home Office on Monday found that £50m wasted on flights that never took off. Read more. ⬇️
https://buff.ly/4gegVJI
December 3, 2024 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
francesryan.bsky.social
“As someone who relies on the state for my survival, I have a healthy distrust of giving it any more power over my life than it already has. Though some people want the right to die, many of us are still fighting for the right to exist.”

Must read by Liz Carr: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
MPs may trust doctors to manage assisted dying. Disabled people like me cannot | Liz Carr
Two friends recently woke up in hospital to find ‘Do not resuscitate’ orders on their notes. We’re all too aware that some lives aren’t valued as much as others, says the actor and disability rights a...
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2024 at 6:35 PM
larahawkins.bsky.social
Behind the numbers are men, women and children who've come to the UK seeking safety. Every day we work with people who've fled torture after standing up for the basic rights we take for granted every day.

🎙️Freedom from Torture's Associate Director of Advocacy
unpicks the latest immigration stats 👇
November 28, 2024 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
sophiegilbert.bsky.social
With every passing day I better understand the mothers in Victorian novels who stay in their bedrooms with the curtains closed and complain vaguely about their “nerves.”
November 27, 2024 at 5:44 PM
Reposted by Lara Hawkins
politics.co.uk
“It’s possible to be supportive in principle of assisted dying, as Liberty is, and also hold serious reservations about the contents of the Assisted Dying Bill and the way it is moving through Parliament”, writes Akiko Hart
www.politics.co.uk/comment/2024...
Assisted dying debate must also consider who it might harm - Politics.co.uk
As MPs prepare for the debate on assisted dying, many will be feeling the weight of their decision. Assisted dying is one of the most fundamental human rights issues. It’s about how we live, how we di...
www.politics.co.uk
November 28, 2024 at 8:20 AM