Borderland - Forum for Asylum Seekers and Refugees aims to strengthen the participation of asylum seekers in the public debate on Norwegian asylum policies. Norwegian policies towards asylum seekers is under continuous debate, but with limited participation from the people the debate is all about - the asylum seekers and refugees who know better than anyone why they have fled their home countries and how they see their possibilities.

Amongst others, asylum seekers from Afghanistan have through their extensive activities during the last two years demonstrated the importance asylum seekers can - and in our opinion clearly should - play in the public debate on Norwegian asylum policies. At the same time, the hunger strike on Domkirkeplassen in Oslo in June 2006 demonstrated the problems linked to the lack of legal and safe ways for asylum seekers to participate in the public debate. A number of hunger strikes over the last few years also among other groups of asylum seekers highlight a situation where asylum seekers often are compelled to extreme and sometimes dangerous means of expression - or to silence in the public debate.

Borderland aims to help change this situation. Borderland will give asylum seekers access to a common web page for the organisations that participate in the forum and other kinds of support. It is a long-term objective to establish basic office facilities to be used by the organisations. Borderland shall also establish contact points for asylum seekers and others with an interest in asylum politics, through open hearings, discussion groups and other means.

...asylum seekers are often compelled to extreme and sometimes dangerous means of expression - or to silence in the public debate