We are undocumented migrants and refugees who have gathered together to forge the strongest unity and cooperation to uphold and defend our rights, welfare and interests.

We live and work in The Netherlands as domestic workers, agricultural workers, construction workers, horeca workers, and others. We are also undocumented refugees.

Whereas we suffer from deprivations like, we have no right to health insurance and thus it is difficult for us to have access to health care, we constantly transfer from room to room because we have no right to housing, we are always anxious on the streets, in trams and buses and other public places because we are afraid of police control.

Now our lives are further threatened by the criminalization of the undocumented under the “European Union Return Directive”.  This legislation provides for the arrest and deportation of an undocumented, detention up to 18 months and the imposition of a re-entry ban of up to five years after deportation.

We have the right to be treated as human beings, we are born free and equal and we have the right to be treated with dignity.

We have agreed to set up an alliance of migrant organizations and refugees for purposes of the campaign, which we have called the Alliance for Human Rights of the Undocumented (AHRU);

We have laid down the following as basis of our unity:

1.   to give a voice to undocumented migrants and refugees;

2.   to campaign against criminalization of the undocumented because such criminalization is immoral,  unjust and unconscionable;

3.   to foster unity and cooperation among migrant and refugee organizations and to reach the broadest possible support for the campaign;

4.   that the alliance is a platform – a broad network for the campaign;

5.   that the activities of the platform shall be: to issue the manifesto of the alliance against criminalization, to carry out the campaign, to generate support for our cause from fellow migrants/refugees and the general Dutch public; and carry out research, information and education.