When You Don't Exist

When you don't exist is Amnesty International's campaign for the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Europe and at its borders.
People move to Europe for different reasons. Some flee persecution or war. Others leave because of chronic poverty. They hope to find a safer, better future in Europe. But too often they find a different reality.
Europe is failing migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. Negative attitudes to asylum-seekers and migrants are widespread. European countries are stepping up measures to control migration. This can cause serious human rights violations. People on the move have their rights violated, often out of the public eye. They are effectively made invisible.
To learn more about Amnesty International's campaign, please visit: www.whenyoudont...
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Or follow us on Twitter: @dontexisteurope

[@atemsdestinee93]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of what's wrong with this world.

[@mfonelijahudoh8869]

Amnesty International doing a great Job in speaking out and acting against Human right abuses all over the world, I am pleased to be a part of the struggle.

[@rudigruenberg6591]

It doesnt exist

[@tansafi]

Absolutely perfect. Thank you so much. I hope this speaks through to some people.

[@kjetilnyjordet7742]

Why do people have to post stupid comments? If you don't get the message, don't assume it's automatically something negative.

[@maxieshouse]

Role reversal or 'the shoe is on the other foot' ... delicious irony, moving, powerful, perhaps one day that could be ME .. IT COULD BE YOU ..

[@TheMysticalStar]

The aim of this smart video is to oblige western people to imagine the possibility that what happens to some refugees could very well happen to them some day. It is a video about empathy. If those things did happen to you - being forced to flee from your country, loosing everything, being victim of racism and hate - would you still be so hard on refusing to help distressed people who need a country to welcome them ? If you had lost everything, simply needed a safe place to live in, but were rejected because of your ethnic group/skin color, considered a nuisance just because you are different, how would you feel in front of closed frontiers everywhere ? The fact is that wealthy western countries act and vote laws as if those situations would never happen to them. Those countries act as if they're not concerned by the lives of those thousands of people. By making such choices, we are not up to our duty of Humanity to take care of each other on this planet. We are responsible to help those in needs. We are responsible to choose that protecting a human life is an emergency whose importance lies above any economical, ideological or ethnical consideration. Amnesty here is just offering us the occasion to think about this topic from a new angle : stepping in the shoes of the ones you judge as "foreigners". First of all, they are all human beings, just like you and I.

[@AGAwesome]

Thank you, and peace and love to you! It's heart breaking that in this advanced world today anybody should have to suffer. Hopefully this video can at least inspire or encourage people to look at life a little differently and a little more thoughtfully.

[@andrewa182]

Remember that time when America had a civil war and millions of its adult males fled to Europe and the middle east.... ...Neither do I.

[@gintareally]

well done, Amnesty. it's time somebody stood up for some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

[@OG_reket]

Also, I couldn't say this in my other post because of char limit, but I wanted to thank you for not flipping your shit and actually presenting an opinion worthy of comment rather than being a troll on the internet.

[@rarehunt3r]

Read a history textbook. Europeans have affected all different cultures and how they are now this present day. Europe has definitely done its fair share...in creating chaos throughout time. I do agree that Europe can't support an influx of refugees but everyone should do their part and help if they can.

[@JakeRaven1970]

Australia is one. Thousands of refugees/imigrants try to travel to Australia without legal visas, and when the boats are intercepted, they are put in internment camps. Also check out Raymondville Texas, a camp holding over 2000 people who entered the USA illegally who are being held for deportation. Its a real thing, and it's worldwide.

[@vthilton]

Truth, Love and Peace for All.

[@choice477]

we need more organization like you!

[@MrEpsteinsMother]

Is this the same music used in the refugee scenes of the computer game Mass Effect 3? Seems very similar. Which would be weird.

[@aaaaka11]

So touching...

[@ghagasdgj]

Well this seemed to shoot far above lots of heads. Too bad.

[@0.1234.]

I love you Amnesty International ... very strong campaign documentary. Rola Badran - Palestinian Refugee in Lebanon, Programs Director of the Palestinian Human Rights Organization - PHRO

[@saimauddin5093]

this is a great way of showing the problem

[@gb8628]

So relevant, especially today, 10 or so years later in 2023. Fun fact, I was an extra in this short as it was filmed where I live.

[@wesafree]

this is lovely. i'd never thought of it like that...

[@ModMudd]

Early in the US there were Russians, Polish, Irish, Italians, British, French, Germans etc. These are all RADICALLY different cultures with their own customs and norms. IE: A multicultural nation. To say the US wasn't multicultural is to assume that just because these people were all considered "white" that they're all the same. That's offensive to white people. White people aren't one homogeneous, indistinguishable clump just because they share a similar skin tone.

[@beautifulnature1814]

Good film. Life is change . It can happen. I welcome refugees. One day I might need your help.🌷

[@ModMudd]

SOME argue that Tibet has suffered "cultural genocide" (notice they put the word "cultural" there to make a distinction).And the actual definition of what it entails remains undefined. And whats happening in Tibet CANNOT be compared the US or Europe. The Chinese GOVERNMENT imposed policies and social reforms on Tibet. Unless African and Asian governments get STATE control of European territories you're using the world "genocide" EXTREMELY recklessly. One could even call it delusional lying.

[@simon8126]

People, some I think are missing the point of this, in my opinion, I believe this video is basically saying, if this happened here, we'd hope other countries would be a bit more sypathetic towards refugees than we currently are. I must admit that I too have been rather derogatory towards assylum seekers, but this has made me see that situations like this can arise anywhere, just because human rights are inaliable, doesn't mean there won't be someone who will deprive you of them anyway.

[@fringeelements]

I don't know what you guys are talking about. I was taught at the finest universities that race doesn't exist in any biological sense, so any "race" you see in this video is purely a matter of things like culture, clothing and food.

[@kindasupersonic7114]

hmm that was a pretty cool twist.. the whole show on the other foot thing...

[@jinjitronic7457]

Why not deal with helping to fix their own countries instead of flooding our own with their problems? Ah, don't build the low higher, drag the high lower. Got it.

[@hihihitaytaytay]

Is youtube running extremely slowly for anyone else?

[@HavingAGreenDay]

We're already less than 10%. We're about 6%. If you recognise what is happening, why are you okay with people coming into Britain?

[@LissNup]

Bravo. Deserves an award.

[@CapiTen10]

Remind me where the vast majority of donations to Africa come from? Okay then.

[@rosie16LRS]

the website that i found this on titled their video "They Replaced Black People With White To Make You See This Differently. Did It Work?" (on upworthy.com) For me, it didn't make a difference because skin color shouldn't matter when raising awareness for these types of global issues. (Also check out the top comments - the second one is about white guilt and such)

[@cryptagion]

Quick, pay a group of politicians to over complicate the situation to give everyone a scapegoat for their discrimination.

[@bookcreator]

Why should this video be any more tragic when the refugees are white? Dammit, people are still people!

[@GoldenSunTerra]

That's kind of the point of the video. Some people don't see people of colour as real people.

[@hungaryargo]

Stupids are still stupids.. like you..

[@tovsteh]

GoldenSunTerra And some people of colour don't see white people as real people. It goes both ways, you know.

[@bookcreator]

GoldenSunTerra Ugh, I guess I get that but that kind of point of view infuriates me. I seriously don't get it

[@VivianeBossina]

triggerhappyrentacop No it doesn't. The difference is power. One group has it, the other doesn't. So they way one group sees and treats the other (and has been seeing and treating the other for centuries now) has more consequences.

[@atemsdestinee93]

I mean, of course! He must have completely forgotten about the Greek, Roman and Ottoman empires. Europe has been left unscathed by history in his eyes.

[@RanchoCoral]

Case in point Rhodesia once the diamond of Africa now Zimbabwe funneling a mass exodus to anywhere.

[@isabellmonius6588]

Was wäre wenn es andersherum wäre....gut gemacht.

[@csarn77]

Exactly! This person gets it!

[@HavingAGreenDay]

If what I'm talking about his theoretical genocide, then there was never a genocide in Tibet.

[@lefilmographejusticier3327]

Help the country where you live and help immigrant AFTER AND ONLY AFTER, your country CAN.

[@Acteon346]

No borders, no goverments, no human is ilegal

[@katten838]

They should show this in Israel.

[@leftauparxoun]

Greek Anarchist here... dude we are doomed.

[@Tasurincci]

Al Jazeera's report on violence against Somali people, published on June the 6th (I'm afraid YT won't let me paste the link). It's specially interesting as it also puts in light to the common western misconception of black people being a common single group that suddenly popped on their background with no history or identity whatsoever.

[@T800System]

Good idea. Will this be televised in the UK?

[@ThisAndThat4All]

"I owe it to my ancestors to fight for my motherland, Britain" It's normal to lament the dwindling numbers of your people" How do you define who's "your" people? All who lack melanin? Or all who have been socialized in Britain and therefore share the cultural mindset of Britain?

[@ZetsubouSue]

I agree.

[@timurbrave]

It just stunning. Great view

[@DariuszChagall]

Everyone should see this.

[@stuarthastie6374]

Reminds me of the Amnesty Internationals book cover of 1992. The peanut vender.

[@PieroGiorgi]

Of course, this applies to the American Continent, too.

[@jaygee514]

We already do classify everyone as human. As for classifying people as different races, my point before (which I think you may have overlooked) is that it reflects a shared history among a group.

[@KillaCastro6438]

It seems that way sometimes...

[@MegamikazeMoriko]

DON'T SCROLL DOWN TO THE COMMENTS SECTION *I'M WARNING YOU!!!!!!!!!*

[@thetravelerb]

This is a really great video, I hope some will understand that migrants intentions are not to do bad :/

[@PauloVitorino5]

Amazing!

[@emilyvictoria6581]

Everyone's freaking out about 'threats' to British culture. Sure, I'm all for celebrating and preserving culture, but at what point did culture take priority over human lives? I'm not talking about immigrants. I'm talking about refugees. British culture is not threatened, it exists in countries around the world, including here in Canada. I would gladly give up some comforts of life in my developed country if it meant a refugee who was escaping for their life had a place to go.

[@FalloutNVplayah]

As if that would ever happen. Europe, Europe above all.

[@blipVSblop]

I think you accidentally used a comma instead of a colon.

[@giuliapiffanelli2389]

Who did this campaign? i need the name of the producer

[@jaygee514]

I'm not saying that it's okay or that it should be accepted that Americans treat whites and blacks differently, but to simply wish it away (which is what you're essentially doing) is not helping. Everyone *deserves* to be treated equally, but we need to recognize that not everyone is treated equally and change that.

[@interuniversal321]

I said the same thing last week, it really could.

[@singer31216]

It is not helpful to turn this into a "blacks" v. "whites" issue, we are all brothers and sisters whatever our race, and we should all treat each other with respect. Migrants, refugees and those seeking asylum in Europe are treated as non-persons, unable to work or claim benefits. Amnesty International has made this short film, aiming to help those who are fortunate enough to have been born in a relatively peaceful and prosperous country to spend a moment in the shoes of someone less fortunate.

[@clydeyello]

Now THIS, sir, is an opinion. One that I don't share, but one that I can respect. However, I have to ask you: are YOU British? National identity is something we always carry with us, like a passport. Acknowledging your roots is key to achieving a functioning multicultural society - I will always be an Italian, wherever I'll go.

[@jedrzejmikulski1600]

ما شاء الله !!!! בקרוב אצלכם!

[@willt9721]

Are you jewish or arab

[@starrshine5976]

The way I see things, is everyone wants a better life. If having an issue with immigration, because you believe it will take away from your "better life", I don't see a problem with that. I am sure if a bunch of European's moved into Africa, every African would be OK with that. LOL. The bottom line is EVERYONE wants life easier. This is why some people migrate, this same reason is why others do NOT want people to migrate and settle close to them. Neither groups is better or worse than the other.

[@Tasurincci]

Not for nothing even the Front Nationale came to include blacks and arabs on it's political speech, while violence against inmigrants rises in Souther Mexico, Chile and South Africa.

[@fruubful]

that's pretty much the opposite of what amnesty stands for. It'd be an insult to those who are part of the organisation to even suggest things like that.

[@agameforfoxes]

We are all human. That's correct. But certain races and power structures have a way of inflicting pain on other races.

[@Unevaluated]

I'm not ok with it. where did you get that from?

[@shadiluke]

god bless you amnesty international

[@gosienia8511]

Amnesty International/ Amnesty International Poland- Could you add polish translated to the video? I really want share this but not everyone understand english. :-( THANKS!

[@johnphillips6154]

Is there a way to subscribe to only the English spoken videos?

[@Epicgamer-fg1kz]

Bruh just watching this in class

[@zwitterelf]

This could happen if the UK continues the way it is going with David Cameron, and UKIP

[@ColinMorseCode2]

Maybe if the kid didn't have a hat with that stupid sticker on it, I would actually care.

[@HavingAGreenDay]

Of course it doesn't, but you can't say that if Obama was a Republican that Blacks wouldn't have still voted for him in overwhelming numbers.

[@ChristinePi]

This is going to sound horrible.. but I actually feel less bad for them...

[@GreatWhiteLights]

I don't know.. I already think of the refugees as very poor misfortunate people... this video didn't change anything for me... I couldn't relate to the topic more, just because I'm white... they are people...

[@Unevaluated]

Ofcause i'm British, and i have no problem whatsoever with people from other countries and cultures coming to and even living permanently in Britain. But the days when other cultures were a minority for us to treat with respect are over. less than 3/4 of births in Britain are to British citizens. A quater of our birth rate is to first generation immigrants ALONE, this doesn't even take into account 2nd and 3rd, stop pretending British culture isn't under threat

[@Maysara51464]

الظلم منتشر في كل مكان للأسف لايحس بالمظلوم غير يلي نظلم حسبي الله ونعم الوكيل

[@zwitterelf]

Its not anti-white, anti-black whatever... its about political crap that could happen to any country that would result in refugees, this could happen with the UK if continues David cameron's ideaologies and UKIPs

[@AmandaChoin217]

you can't compare peoples lives, everyone goes through different things and some are seemingly more difficult because of the measure you use to define difficult, but everyone struggles just in different ways.

[@Nouuuuranlovesadam]

true but you're taking it out of context which makes what you're saying not valid. When you compare the life of someone who is a refugee and being detained to someone who is free and struggling with their daily life then you are just turning a blind eye to an injustice in the system that needs speaking up against, simply because you would rather not empathize or maybe it is inconvenient for you, pretty heartless if you ask me.

[@ifatube3364]

Please go to western and southern zones of oromia regional state,Ethiopia. Innocent peoples are being killed, a lot students are being fired with out any crime. For example from Haramaya University about 77 students were fired without any crime.

[@timgear5]

I'm not wishing it away, if we class everyone as a human rather then different race then we will be able to focus on making them equal. as it stands if we keep classing people into different races then they will always be treated as such.

[@sandraleticialattawaramos907]

More love and peace

[@NakisaSoltanKashefi]

How do you think this video helps the campaign everyone?

[@jmizzle4]

What is the background music?

[@HavingAGreenDay]

I thought I did, but I probably had to delete it because I ran out of room. I originally typed that I think Mariah Carey is white, because she looks white except her nose. To be honest, I don't think any mixed child is white or black. I think that person becomes a hybrid, but most times it looks like the black parent. If it looks more like the white parent then it does, but it's a hybrid. I don't think it's just whites who call people who are half black, black. Blacks claimed Obama as black.

[@rarehunt3r]

Read the disclaimer at the end. he could have used Asians in place of the white people and Latinos in place of the black people. You are missing the whole point of the video.

[@interuniversal321]

Yes this video is obviously making a "racial" point, but I would question if the main issue with refugees is racial. I think it's economic first, and cultural second. In a country such as the UK "race" (as opposed to religion or culture) is not an issue for most people.

[@BishamontenPL]

I don't know how about you, but I live in Europe, and I'm European.

[@Kittee]

Not concentration camps, "refugee camps". This has nothing to do with white guilt, and everything to do with empathy. No one believes every white person is complicate in all the atrocities committed by singular white people, and I hope that people won't judge me based upon the actions of other people of African descent. I hope that by making the faces of the issue familiar (white people) it will enable people understand the severity of the situation.

[@AGAwesome]

Very true. I guess since I was sent by a website that was trying to infer this video as a black vs white kind of thing it was misinterpreted.

[@mther9187]

If that's what they take from this then so be it. At least it might make them think retrospectively about racial & immigration issues.

[@interuniversal321]

Even in the US, I doubt people would complain if wealthy educated mexican entrepreneurs were entering the US, but I bet they would complain if impoverished, uneducated white people were flooding into the country. In the US, eyes race is an issue for many people, but money and education (class) as well as culture is more of an issue than race IMHO.

[@interuniversal321]

Firstly, if there are significant numbers of people on who this actually has an effect, I'll be seriously worried. Surely no one these days is so racist as to be taken aback by this? Second point, this could well be the UK in the future if levels of inequality keep rising so fast at the same time civil liberties evaporate.

[@minarao1]

very powerful ...

[@456inthemix]

innovative and brilliant !