Theo Kamwimbi, the Human Rights Programme Manager in South Africa, with the help of Projects Abroad volunteers and the backing of the UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) spearheaded the release of a wrongfully imprisoned refugee last week.
Mr. Moussa Mohamed Nzeyimana, an asylum seeker from Burundi was arrested by police in Cape Town city on January 14th because his permit had expired. He was held at a police station behind the College of Cape Town even though the University of Cape Town law clinic issued him a letter explaining why his permit was not renewed in time.
Moussa was released last week and is thankfully fine. Theo added that "this unfortunate incident and many others could be prevented if refugees and asylum seekers were given the opportunity to renew their permits before they expired. So, let’s join our efforts to help them get proper documentation and have their basic human rights respected!"
One volunteer Natasha Sirrieh aged 23 who volunteered at the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office explained "On hearing the news that with our help one of the refugees had finally obtained the sufficient documents to remain in Cape Town, the overwhelming gratification of knowing we had helped someone in need was like nothing I have experienced before."
For further details on this and related projects please look at our website www.projects-abroad.co.uk. Alternatively please look at our Human Rights Law website www.volunteer-human-rights-ghana.org.
Set up in 1992, Projects Abroad specialises in offering students and others a diverse range of projects and destinations throughout Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Projects Abroad offers 80 different placements to 3,500 volunteers per year in areas such as sport, medicine, teaching, conservation, journalism, care, business and community development.
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Notes to Editors
Photo within release shows a Projects Abroad volunteer with staff member Theo Kamwimbi.
Additional photographs and interviews with Projects Abroad volunteers are available upon request.
For further information about this and other projects, contact Harry at Projects Abroad on 01903 708300 or 07789 990013 or visit www.projects-abroad.co.uk.
