When You Don't Exist

When you don't exist is Amnesty International's campaign for the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Europe and at its borders.

People move to Europe for different reasons. Some flee persecution or war. Others leave because of chronic poverty. They hope to find a safer, better future in Europe. But too often they find a different reality.

Europe is failing migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. Negative attitudes to asylum-seekers and migrants are widespread. European countries are stepping up measures to control migration. This can cause serious human rights violations. People on the move have their rights violated, often out of the public eye. They are effectively made invisible.

Or follow us on Twitter: @dontexisteurope

[mfonelijahudoh]

Amnesty International doing a great Job in speaking out and acting against Human right abuses all over the world, I am pleased to be a part of the struggle.

[kjetilnyjordet]

Why do people have to post stupid comments? If you don't get the message, don't assume it's automatically something negative.

[TheMysticalStar]

The aim of this smart video is to oblige western people to imagine the possibility that what happens to some refugees could very well happen to them some day. It is a video about empathy. If those things did happen to you - being forced to flee from your country, loosing everything, being victim of racism and hate - would you still be so hard on refusing to help distressed people who need a country to welcome them ? If you had lost everything, simply needed a safe place to live in, but were rejected because of your ethnic group/skin color, considered a nuisance just because you are different, how would you feel in front of closed frontiers everywhere ? The fact is that wealthy western countries act and vote laws as if those situations would never happen to them. Those countries act as if they're not concerned by the lives of those thousands of people. By making such choices, we are not up to our duty of Humanity to take care of each other on this planet. We are responsible to help those in needs. We are responsible to choose that protecting a human life is an emergency whose importance lies above any economical, ideological or ethnical consideration. Amnesty here is just offering us the occasion to think about this topic from a new angle : stepping in the shoes of the ones you judge as "foreigners". First of all, they are all human beings, just like you and I.

[atemsdestinee]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of what's wrong with this world.

[rarehuntr]

Read a history textbook. Europeans have affected all different cultures and how they are now this present day. Europe has definitely done its fair share...in creating chaos throughout time. I do agree that Europe can't support an influx of refugees but everyone should do their part and help if they can.

[tansafi]

Absolutely perfect. Thank you so much. I hope this speaks through to some people.

[andrewa]

Remember that time when America had a civil war and millions of its adult males fled to Europe and the middle east....



...Neither do I.

[..]

I love you Amnesty International ... very strong campaign documentary. Rola Badran - Palestinian Refugee in Lebanon, Programs Director of the Palestinian Human Rights Organization - PHRO

[gintareally]

well done, Amnesty. it's time somebody stood up for some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

[maxieshouse]

Role reversal or 'the shoe is on the other foot' ... delicious irony, moving, powerful, perhaps one day that could be ME .. IT COULD BE YOU ..

[gb]

So relevant, especially today, 10 or so years later in 2023.
Fun fact, I was an extra in this short as it was filmed where I live.

[simon]

People, some I think are missing the point of this, in my opinion, I believe this video is basically saying, if this happened here, we'd hope other countries would be a bit more sypathetic towards refugees than we currently are.
I must admit that I too have been rather derogatory towards assylum seekers, but this has made me see that situations like this can arise anywhere, just because human rights are inaliable, doesn't mean there won't be someone who will deprive you of them anyway.

[JakeRaven]

Australia is one. Thousands of refugees/imigrants try to travel to Australia without legal visas, and when the boats are intercepted, they are put in internment camps. Also check out Raymondville Texas, a camp holding over 2000 people who entered the USA illegally who are being held for deportation. Its a real thing, and it's worldwide.

[interuniversal]

Even in the US, I doubt people would complain if wealthy educated mexican entrepreneurs were entering the US, but I bet they would complain if impoverished, uneducated white people were flooding into the country. In the US, eyes race is an issue for many people, but money and education (class) as well as culture is more of an issue than race IMHO.

[MrEpsteinsMother]

Is this the same music used in the refugee scenes of the computer game Mass Effect 3? Seems very similar. Which would be weird.

[OG_reket]

Also, I couldn't say this in my other post because of char limit, but I wanted to thank you for not flipping your shit and actually presenting an opinion worthy of comment rather than being a troll on the internet.

[beautifulnature]

Good film. Life is change . It can happen. I welcome refugees. One day I might need your help.🌷

[ghagasdgj]

Well this seemed to shoot far above lots of heads. Too bad.

[AGAwesome]

Thank you, and peace and love to you! It's heart breaking that in this advanced world today anybody should have to suffer. Hopefully this video can at least inspire or encourage people to look at life a little differently and a little more thoughtfully.

[saimauddin]

this is a great way of showing the problem