Introduction

Abstract

Above we see the words of 15-year-old Qadir describing the effects for him of a two-year journey made to the UK to escape imminent danger in his local village outside Kabul, Afghanistan. In making this journey without any legal guardian, support or legal documents, Qadir was trafficked by people-smugglers and, when not being transported by lorry, was required to walk for lengthy periods across desert and snow-covered mountains without adequate clothing or food. Many of Qadir’s companions on this journey were forced to steal for their captors, physically beaten or sexually abused. Some who were at points unable to continue were simply abandoned to their fate. In reaching the UK, and being granted temporary discretionary leave to remain there, Qadir was one of the fortunate ones of those who started out on the arduous and horrendous journey from Afghanistan.

It was a battle between me and death. I was sure that death was going to win and I would lose, but Alhamdulillah, finally I won when I arrived to [the] UK alive … None of us could believe afterwards that we were in that kind of situation and were still alive.

(Kennedy, 2012)