Choose Love: Challenging the Rwanda Deportation Policy
In 2022, Europe's largest grassroots aid distributor, Choose Love, partnered with Woodrow to counteract the UK Government's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Amidst harmful rhetoric and daunting policy, our task was to spotlight the harsh realities migrants faced and shift public opinion towards positive change. Through the eyes of refugee support workers, legal experts and those directly affected, we saw a truth being obscured by the political clamour and made it our mission to bring it back into focus.
Impact
We secured heartfelt stories and hard-hitting facts in major publications, on TV and on radio, keeping coverage consistent and messaging unequivocal in its condemnation. When the High Court ruled against the deportation flights, none left the UK: a testament to our efforts to shine a light on the human cost of such policies. We helped bring attention to the essential safeguards required to protect individuals and put a significant roadblock in the implementation of these policies. Today, deportation flights remain grounded.
Approach
We braced for a long-haul legal battle when the first planned deportation flight was grounded on legal grounds. In response, Choose Love took an unprecedented step, funding Asylum Aid's legal challenge against the government in the High Court. We made sure the world heard about this crucial fight, using insights from parliamentary debates to steer our strategy. We ensured all key legal, home affairs and human rights journalists were briefed ahead of time, giving access to spokespeople whenever the story spiked. And when the High Court decision came, our campaign machine was ready to ensure our voice was front and centre.
