People’s History Museum (PHM) is wearing its heart on its sleeve to stand Together With Refugees. Along with a coalition of international development charities, grassroot and community organisations, refugee-led groups and cultural institutions it is urging the government to rethink its approach to the Nationality and Borders Bill. Visitors to the national museum of democracy have been sharing their reactions to the Bill on postcards, which will be delivered to the Home Secretary on Valentine’s Day to ask the government to rethink its approach.

The changes proposed by the government on how asylum seekers could be treated under the Nationality and Borders Bill threaten to undermine the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This milestone in the history of human rights has stood since 1948 and recognises equality of all and represents the guiding principles to every individual’s rights as a human being. Furthermore, if the Bill passes into law, it will profoundly undermine the UK’s commitment to the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Hundreds of visitors to People’s History Museum have shared their concerns and anger about the Bill. Their words are powerful: “Refugees deserve our support and our compassion”; “asylum seekers deserve nothing less than fairness, equity and care”; “Everyone deserves the right to safety”; “We’re all human”; “The Nationality and Borders Bill is a disgrace to this country and damages our standing the world”; “All people have a human right to live in peace”; “Nobody should suffer for seeking asylum”.

To understand why the Nationality and Borders Bill is so profoundly at odds with the beliefs of so many people you have to step into the shoes of those that it will affect, which you can do when you visit People’s History Museum. Here the culmination of three years work highlights to visitors many personal stories of migration, all of which has been brought together and creatively explored in partnership with a Community Programme Team, made up of those who have experienced migration themselves. Migration: a human story features trails, gallery interventions, films and much more.

People’s History Museum and its exhibitions are free to visit with a suggested donation of £5. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10.00am to 4.00pm and during Greater Manchester school holidays (w/c 14 February and w/c 21 February) is open Monday to Sunday from 10.00am to 4.00pm.