Cynthia Orchard
@cynthiaorchard.bsky.social
Human rights are for everyone.
Personal account.
Personal account.
Pinned
“My father used to say, when someone has citizenship, it opens thousands of doors....”
In our latest guest blog, @cynthiaorchard.bsky.social presents a report which encourages OSCE-participating States to take action to prevent childhood statelessness.
Read more: buff.ly/qQHtprf
In our latest guest blog, @cynthiaorchard.bsky.social presents a report which encourages OSCE-participating States to take action to prevent childhood statelessness.
Read more: buff.ly/qQHtprf
I'm a 4th gen migrant, my parents had different nationalities & I couldn't acquire my mom's nationality at birth due to a law that discriminated against women. But luckily I was a US citizen at birth...
My latest blog article and a report calling for measures to prevent childhood statelessness.
My latest blog article and a report calling for measures to prevent childhood statelessness.
Forcing refugees to wait 20 years to acquire permanent residency won't solve problems.
It will make the lives of people recognised as refugees more difficult though, and will create more work for Govt and asylum lawyers.
It also doesn't align with Article 34 of the Refugee Convention.
It will make the lives of people recognised as refugees more difficult though, and will create more work for Govt and asylum lawyers.
It also doesn't align with Article 34 of the Refugee Convention.
November 16, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Forcing refugees to wait 20 years to acquire permanent residency won't solve problems.
It will make the lives of people recognised as refugees more difficult though, and will create more work for Govt and asylum lawyers.
It also doesn't align with Article 34 of the Refugee Convention.
It will make the lives of people recognised as refugees more difficult though, and will create more work for Govt and asylum lawyers.
It also doesn't align with Article 34 of the Refugee Convention.
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
Private companies operating care services in just three regions of England made £250m profits in 3 years,
£87.7m of profits went to care providers owned by private equity controlled from tax havens.
Profits mean money buys less. Higher taxes for less service.
Say NO to privatisation.
£87.7m of profits went to care providers owned by private equity controlled from tax havens.
Profits mean money buys less. Higher taxes for less service.
Say NO to privatisation.
Private care providers in three English regions make £250m in three years
More than third of profits analysed went to firms owned by private equity or based in tax havens, research finds
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Private companies operating care services in just three regions of England made £250m profits in 3 years,
£87.7m of profits went to care providers owned by private equity controlled from tax havens.
Profits mean money buys less. Higher taxes for less service.
Say NO to privatisation.
£87.7m of profits went to care providers owned by private equity controlled from tax havens.
Profits mean money buys less. Higher taxes for less service.
Say NO to privatisation.
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
Join us on 10 December 2025 from 1pm-2pm (UK time) for our live Human Rights Day webinar to learn more about our MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies.
www.london.ac.uk/news-events/...
#Refugees #Displacement #RefugeeProtection #ForcedMigration #PostgraduateStudy #HumanRightsDay
www.london.ac.uk/news-events/...
#Refugees #Displacement #RefugeeProtection #ForcedMigration #PostgraduateStudy #HumanRightsDay
November 7, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Join us on 10 December 2025 from 1pm-2pm (UK time) for our live Human Rights Day webinar to learn more about our MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies.
www.london.ac.uk/news-events/...
#Refugees #Displacement #RefugeeProtection #ForcedMigration #PostgraduateStudy #HumanRightsDay
www.london.ac.uk/news-events/...
#Refugees #Displacement #RefugeeProtection #ForcedMigration #PostgraduateStudy #HumanRightsDay
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
The first day of our joint conference - Statelessness & Innovation: Building Power through Collective Action - with Statefree in Berlin is underway! Today, it’s all about the power of community.
#Statelessness #Europe #HumanRights
#Statelessness #Europe #HumanRights
November 5, 2025 at 11:48 AM
The first day of our joint conference - Statelessness & Innovation: Building Power through Collective Action - with Statefree in Berlin is underway! Today, it’s all about the power of community.
#Statelessness #Europe #HumanRights
#Statelessness #Europe #HumanRights
Lovely story about a refugee woman rebuilding her life and helping others in the UK. ❤️
Entrepreneurial refugee says 'thank you UK' for giving family sanctuary - BBC News share.google/YhiIcB8ZzfnR...
Entrepreneurial refugee says 'thank you UK' for giving family sanctuary - BBC News share.google/YhiIcB8ZzfnR...
Entrepreneurial refugee says 'thank you UK' for giving family sanctuary
Since settling in North Yorkshire, Nahid Hamidi has set up a pop-up restaurant and helps other refugees.
share.google
November 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Lovely story about a refugee woman rebuilding her life and helping others in the UK. ❤️
Entrepreneurial refugee says 'thank you UK' for giving family sanctuary - BBC News share.google/YhiIcB8ZzfnR...
Entrepreneurial refugee says 'thank you UK' for giving family sanctuary - BBC News share.google/YhiIcB8ZzfnR...
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
Migration makes for political deflection and migrants an easy scapegoat, but most "concerns" around immigration are flat out false and driven by hostile rhetoric.
Reality is, on a day to day basis, people are more worried about how they'll get through to the next payday.
news.sky.com/story/manufa...
Reality is, on a day to day basis, people are more worried about how they'll get through to the next payday.
news.sky.com/story/manufa...
'Manufactured panic': Immigration not near top of most people's concerns, poll suggests
The cost of living, health, crime, and housing are much higher on people's lists of personal worries, a YouGov survey has suggested.
news.sky.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Migration makes for political deflection and migrants an easy scapegoat, but most "concerns" around immigration are flat out false and driven by hostile rhetoric.
Reality is, on a day to day basis, people are more worried about how they'll get through to the next payday.
news.sky.com/story/manufa...
Reality is, on a day to day basis, people are more worried about how they'll get through to the next payday.
news.sky.com/story/manufa...
Dependants of Gaza students can come to UK, government says - BBC News share.google/t80nEhE0ny44...
Dependants of Gaza students can come to UK, government says - BBC News
The decision is a reversal of the original policy which only supported the evacuation of the students themselves.
share.google
October 30, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Dependants of Gaza students can come to UK, government says - BBC News share.google/t80nEhE0ny44...
Share your views on a Tory MP’s proposal to deport large numbers of legally settled UK immigrants | Immigration and asylum | The Guardian share.google/MXRiscppRri7...
Share your views on a Tory MP’s proposal to deport large numbers of legally settled UK immigrants
We’d like to hear from people who may be affected by the policy proposal of Katie Lam MP to revoke the right to remain from many legally settled immigrants in Britain
share.google
October 30, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Share your views on a Tory MP’s proposal to deport large numbers of legally settled UK immigrants | Immigration and asylum | The Guardian share.google/MXRiscppRri7...
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
Use your country expertise to help inform asylum decisions - Train as an expert witness for asylum cases - Register now for our next session on 5 December 2025.
Early bird rates available until 6 November - register here: rli.sas.ac.uk/study-us/sho...
#ExpertWitness #RefugeeLaw #AsylumClaims
Early bird rates available until 6 November - register here: rli.sas.ac.uk/study-us/sho...
#ExpertWitness #RefugeeLaw #AsylumClaims
October 22, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Use your country expertise to help inform asylum decisions - Train as an expert witness for asylum cases - Register now for our next session on 5 December 2025.
Early bird rates available until 6 November - register here: rli.sas.ac.uk/study-us/sho...
#ExpertWitness #RefugeeLaw #AsylumClaims
Early bird rates available until 6 November - register here: rli.sas.ac.uk/study-us/sho...
#ExpertWitness #RefugeeLaw #AsylumClaims
ICJ orders Israel to allow aid into Gaza and says restrictions breached international obligations | The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
ICJ orders Israel to allow aid into Gaza and says restrictions breached international obligations
UN’s top court also finds Israel failed to justify blocking Unrwa and other relief agencies
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:07 AM
ICJ orders Israel to allow aid into Gaza and says restrictions breached international obligations | The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
You may have heard about UK ministers' plan to double to 10 years the time needed to reached settled status in the UK. But did you realise that it threatened access to pensions for the 180,000 people who came from Hong Kong on the UK government's visa scheme? My dispatch: www.ft.com/content/8b91...
UK Hongkongers rue the rockiness of their ‘lifeboat’ after threatened visa changes
People who fled Chinese territory are angry after London looks at doubling length of time required to gain citizenship
www.ft.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:21 AM
You may have heard about UK ministers' plan to double to 10 years the time needed to reached settled status in the UK. But did you realise that it threatened access to pensions for the 180,000 people who came from Hong Kong on the UK government's visa scheme? My dispatch: www.ft.com/content/8b91...
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
New on the #RLI podcast:
'Fit for the future? Climate change, global crises and the capacity of refugee law' which was part of the 16th International Refugee Law Seminar Series: The Future of Refugee Law.
Listen here:
rli.sas.ac.uk/podcasts/fit...
#ClimateChange #RefugeeLaw #Podcast
'Fit for the future? Climate change, global crises and the capacity of refugee law' which was part of the 16th International Refugee Law Seminar Series: The Future of Refugee Law.
Listen here:
rli.sas.ac.uk/podcasts/fit...
#ClimateChange #RefugeeLaw #Podcast
October 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM
New on the #RLI podcast:
'Fit for the future? Climate change, global crises and the capacity of refugee law' which was part of the 16th International Refugee Law Seminar Series: The Future of Refugee Law.
Listen here:
rli.sas.ac.uk/podcasts/fit...
#ClimateChange #RefugeeLaw #Podcast
'Fit for the future? Climate change, global crises and the capacity of refugee law' which was part of the 16th International Refugee Law Seminar Series: The Future of Refugee Law.
Listen here:
rli.sas.ac.uk/podcasts/fit...
#ClimateChange #RefugeeLaw #Podcast
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
Stronger protection needed for human rights defenders in exile, participants say at ODIHR event
#WarsawHDC ⬇️ buff.ly/1o446FY
#WarsawHDC ⬇️ buff.ly/1o446FY
October 17, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Stronger protection needed for human rights defenders in exile, participants say at ODIHR event
#WarsawHDC ⬇️ buff.ly/1o446FY
#WarsawHDC ⬇️ buff.ly/1o446FY
Excellent opportunity for the right person: CEO of South London Refugee Association - apply by 9 November. www.slr-a.org.uk/get-involved...
Vacancies - SLRA
For all roles, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals, and those who are migrants or refugees, and who have lived experience of the hostil...
www.slr-a.org.uk
October 16, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Excellent opportunity for the right person: CEO of South London Refugee Association - apply by 9 November. www.slr-a.org.uk/get-involved...
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
Gaza PhD student ‘heartbroken’ as family blocked from entering the UK www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Gaza PhD student ‘heartbroken’ as family blocked from entering the UK
Manar al-Houbi’s husband and children refused entry despite her winning a scholarship to cover tuition fees, living costs and housing for them all
www.theguardian.com
October 12, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Gaza PhD student ‘heartbroken’ as family blocked from entering the UK www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Interesting article:
"Asylum Interviews in the UK:
The Problem of Evidence and the Possibility of Applied Anthropology"
in Social Anthropology/Anthropologie sociale
By @judithbeyer.bsky.social
www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journal...
"Asylum Interviews in the UK:
The Problem of Evidence and the Possibility of Applied Anthropology"
in Social Anthropology/Anthropologie sociale
By @judithbeyer.bsky.social
www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journal...
October 10, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Interesting article:
"Asylum Interviews in the UK:
The Problem of Evidence and the Possibility of Applied Anthropology"
in Social Anthropology/Anthropologie sociale
By @judithbeyer.bsky.social
www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journal...
"Asylum Interviews in the UK:
The Problem of Evidence and the Possibility of Applied Anthropology"
in Social Anthropology/Anthropologie sociale
By @judithbeyer.bsky.social
www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journal...
Nice to see this example of Jewish and Palestinian people gathering in London for peace - BBC News share.google/Oh4aMmKU9cus...
Jewish and Palestinian people gather in London for peace - BBC News
People join together in central London each month to share their hopes for peace.
share.google
October 9, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Nice to see this example of Jewish and Palestinian people gathering in London for peace - BBC News share.google/Oh4aMmKU9cus...
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
Register now for our next seminar:
Funding crisis, UN reform and the future of humanitarian work, 6 November, 6pm-7pm, Bloomsbury Room, G35, Ground Floor, Senate House
rli.sas.ac.uk/events/fundi...
#Funding #FundingCrisis #UN80 #IOM #UNHCR #Displacement #Refugees #IDPs #InternallyDisplacedPeople
Funding crisis, UN reform and the future of humanitarian work, 6 November, 6pm-7pm, Bloomsbury Room, G35, Ground Floor, Senate House
rli.sas.ac.uk/events/fundi...
#Funding #FundingCrisis #UN80 #IOM #UNHCR #Displacement #Refugees #IDPs #InternallyDisplacedPeople
October 7, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Register now for our next seminar:
Funding crisis, UN reform and the future of humanitarian work, 6 November, 6pm-7pm, Bloomsbury Room, G35, Ground Floor, Senate House
rli.sas.ac.uk/events/fundi...
#Funding #FundingCrisis #UN80 #IOM #UNHCR #Displacement #Refugees #IDPs #InternallyDisplacedPeople
Funding crisis, UN reform and the future of humanitarian work, 6 November, 6pm-7pm, Bloomsbury Room, G35, Ground Floor, Senate House
rli.sas.ac.uk/events/fundi...
#Funding #FundingCrisis #UN80 #IOM #UNHCR #Displacement #Refugees #IDPs #InternallyDisplacedPeople
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
You should be angry at private companies making massive profits from our taxes to house the most desperate people in appalling conditions... And NOT the people forced to live in them.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Asylum hotel provider makes £180m profit despite claims of inedible food and rationed loo paper
Asylum seekers and charities tell BBC of
www.bbc.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 7:11 AM
You should be angry at private companies making massive profits from our taxes to house the most desperate people in appalling conditions... And NOT the people forced to live in them.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
📄 @enstatelessness.bsky.social new briefing highlights issues for #stateless #Palestinians in the UK, including family reunification, detention & expulsion. It is designed to support lawyers & advocates working to uphold the #RightToNationality👉https://tinyurl.com/wktnjka2
October 2, 2025 at 10:07 AM
📄 @enstatelessness.bsky.social new briefing highlights issues for #stateless #Palestinians in the UK, including family reunification, detention & expulsion. It is designed to support lawyers & advocates working to uphold the #RightToNationality👉https://tinyurl.com/wktnjka2
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
Helpful summary and analysis of the UK's 1-in-1-out deal with France, by Eric Fripp.
opiniojuris.org/2025/10/03/t...
opiniojuris.org/2025/10/03/t...
The Agreement Between the UK and France on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys
[Eric Fripp is a Barrister at 36 Public & Human Rights, part of the 36 Group, Gray’s Inn, London and Senior Visiting Fellow for the Refugee Law Initiative, School of Advanced Study, University …
opiniojuris.org
October 6, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Helpful summary and analysis of the UK's 1-in-1-out deal with France, by Eric Fripp.
opiniojuris.org/2025/10/03/t...
opiniojuris.org/2025/10/03/t...
Reposted by Cynthia Orchard
From last week: Briefing: is the modern slavery identification system in the UK being misused? | Sonia Lenegan
Briefing: is the modern slavery identification system in the UK being misused? - Free Movement
The Home Secretary has claimed (as have many of the last several of them) that the modern slavery identification process is "being misused" and has used this
freemovement.org.uk
October 6, 2025 at 9:32 AM
From last week: Briefing: is the modern slavery identification system in the UK being misused? | Sonia Lenegan
Kenyans win case to prove UK soldiers are their fathers - BBC News share.google/WhWtfFSsk9LG...
Kenyans win case to prove UK soldiers are their fathers - BBC News
Commercially available DNA databases were used to identify unknown fathers, who had served in Kenya.
share.google
October 4, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Kenyans win case to prove UK soldiers are their fathers - BBC News share.google/WhWtfFSsk9LG...
Family unity is vital for children’s wellbeing. While we welcome the prioritisation of families in the UK-France agreement, safe and regular routes for unaccompanied children remain urgently needed. Read more: www.barnardos.org.uk/news/respons...
Barnardo's response to the suspension of refugee family reunion applications
We are deeply concerned by this week’s announcement of the suspension of the family reunification route, which will only make it harder for children to reunite with their parents in the UK.
www.barnardos.org.uk
October 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM