At times of great human suffering, we see extraordinary courage and compassion. Communities across Scotland, and Europe, have led with creativity, practical action and costly generosity in Calais, Lesvos and in receiving communities in Scotland. The people have led where larger institutions and some governments have been slow, reluctant and mired in outdated thinking and ineffective solutions.

At the same time, we have witnessed a vicious rise in xenophobia and structural violence against refugees. This has happened in Europe before and we have much to learn from the lessons of history. The last time Europe faced such numbers of refugees it failed. Facing its failure the articles protecting Human Rights were created and these very articles are now in peril. The last time the people of Europe said never again.

This public lecture will focus on the responses of civil society and policy makers in Scotland, within an uneasy UK, and at the time of BREXIT, and on the stories of day to life as people integrate into communities in Scotland.

Professor Alison Phipps from the University of Glasgow is the UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts and is a regular public speaker and media commentator on refugee issues. At this free talk, hosted by the Centre for Global Migrations, University of Otago, Professor Phipps will talk about her work with refugees in Scotland. The Centre sees the potential for productive discussion on refugees, as Professor Phipps is aware of the refugee situation here in New Zealand.