Medical Justice Parliamentary Launch
Palace of Westminster, 12th July 2007
Hosted by Lord Ramsbotham, former Chief Inspector of Prisons (photo below). 
Speakers ;
Dr Felicity de Zulueta, consultant psychiatrist, Maudsley Hospital
Alexander Goodman, barrister, Atlas Chambers
Harris Nyatsanza, Zimbabwean teacher, ex- immigration detainee
Dr Jonathan Fluxman, GP
Alistair Burt MP
Outcome- Lord Ramsbotham gave Medical Justice a firm endorsement
- Brian Pollett of Detention Services at the Border & Immigration Agency (BIA) was invited to respond to points made by the Speakers – he did so, defending BIA policy and practice. He was challenged robustly on many issues by a number of attendees.
- There was a broad consensus (except from the BIA) that Medical Justice’s work is needed, is effective, and our activities are highly appropriate.
- New Medical Justice members were gained.
- Media articles included "Britain's inhumane shame" in the Guardian and "How we treat the desperate" in the New Statesman.
- Forged links with organisations we hadn’t worked with before.
- Solidarity between organisations solidified, moral boosted.
- A number of MPs who could not attend sent warm well wishes and donations.
- Production of Medical Justice’s first Report – “Beyond Comprehension and Decency ; a report on medical abuse in detention”
- A major grant-giving organisation attended.
Photo above : Brian Pollett, Detention Services, Border & Immigration Agency
Agreement to establish a Medical Justice Parliamentary Advisory GroupMedical Justice to establish a “Parliamentary Advisory Group” comprising staff of parliamentarins’ teams (assistants, researchers, case-workers) whose constituencies are close to detention centres. The purpose of the group shall be for Medical Justice to offer expertise on detainee cases MPs’ teams are dealing with, and for MPs’ teams to offer Medical Justice access to parliamentarians, assistance with detainees’ individual cases, work on Parliamentary Questions, correspondence with Ministers and providing quotes for media articles. 
Photo above : Brian Pollett (Detention Services, Border & Immigration Agency) above photo left, talks to Dr Helen Groom (Medical Justice Oxford supporter) second from left, who did a medico-legal report on Apollo Okello (second from right) who claims he was assaulted at Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre and on his room-mate at Campsfield (far right). Apollo was arrested the following month and claims he was assaulted again .
Actions ;- Invite parliamentarins’ teams to form the Medical Justice Parliamentary Advisory Group.
- Draw up a “statement” for MPs to sign up to that there should be a time limit on detention, healthcare in detention centres should be transferred to the NHS and that the vulnerable people listed in Home Office policy that should not normally be detained should indeed not normally be detained.
Photo above : discussion at the Parliamentary Launch ParticipantsInvitations were restricted due to the limited capacity of the House of Lords committee room (90 people). Organisations confirmed to attend ; MPs or their representatives
Alistair Burt MP
Patrick Hall MP
Andrew Pelling MP
Dr Evan Harris MP
John McDonnell MP
Mike Hancock MP
Greg Mullholland MP
Neil Gerrard MP
Ian Stewart MP
Andrew Dismore MP
Rudi Vis MP
Sandra Gidley MP
Peers
Lords Ramsbotham
Lord Avebury
Baroness Frances D'Souza
Lord Hylton
Other parliamentarians
All Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe
Medical profession
Maudsley Hospital
Homerton Hospital
University of Kent
Harrow Road Health Centre
British Medical Association
Childrens’ rights organisations
NSPCC
Children's Society
Barnardos
Save the Children
Solicitors
Birnberg Peirce & Partners
Shearman Bowen & Co
Trott & Gentry
Refugee Legal Centre
Chambers
Atlas Chambers
36 Bedford Row
1 Pump Court
Garden Court Chambers
Asylum rights organisations
UNHCR
Yarl’s Wood Befrienders
Bail for Immigration Detainees
Bail Circle
Refugee Council
Jesuit Refugee Service
Medical Justice London
Medical Justice Oxford
Medical Justice Kent
Asylum Welcome
Cameroon Diaspora Coalition
All African Women's Group
Medical Foundation
Student Action for Refugees
Close Campsfield Campaign
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns
Amnesty International
Journalists
Private Eye
Freelance journalists
BBC London
New Statesman
BBC World Service
Religious representatives
The Reverend Canon Nicholas Sagovsky
Religious Affairs team from a detention centre
Border & Immigration Agency
Funders
Diana Memorial Fund
Other organisations
Legal Services Commission
Prison Reform Trust
Caged Prisoners |
