Article 1

Based in London, Article 1 was started in October 2008 by members of Waging Peace, a human rights organisation founded in 2004 which campaigns against human rights abuses in Darfur, Sudan.

Article 1 brings together the Darfuri diaspora to share problems and solutions, and to make their voice heard as a group. Its aim is to influence policy, increase media and public awareness and to support Darfuri asylum seekers in the UK. At present, Article 1 estimates that there are between 3,000 and 4,000 Darfuris seeking asylum in the UK.

Article 1's staff are effective and committed campaigners and have extensive experience of working with both with policy-makers and journalists. For example, the Home Office recently disputed the ethnic origin of several Darfuri asylum seekers, meaning that - as non-Arabs - they were likely to face arrest, torture and even murder by the Sudanese security services if returned. In these cases Article 1 was able to provide access to expert evidence on the complex political situation in Sudan. As a result, four deportations were halted at the last minute and, crucially, the Home Office policy on return to Sudan for those refused asylum is now under review.

The Trust thinks it is crucial to support Article 1, a young organisation with huge potential to support vulnerable Darfuri asylum seekers and to influence policy. Our grant is enabling them to improve the organisation's ability to assist asylum seeker with their cases, particularly those facing immediate deportation, or direct them to the relevant specialist organisations. They are also working closely with the UK Darfuri community to set up grassroots organisations and campaign for their fair treatment through media work and lobbying the Government and politicians directly.