Ter inleiding

PAO is an initiative committed to restoring a sense of a dignified life among illegalised migrants. It thus preciously provides hope. Not “false hope”, as claimed by some politicians and state bureaucrats who believe that “activating” illegalised migrants is contradictory to the final goal of deporting them from the Netherlands. PAO provides crucial hope to illegalised migrants and, not less importantly, it provides real hope to Dutch society. Hope for the possibility of rediscovering true solidarity with some of the most marginalised subjects in our midst. Hope that we help today illegalised migrants, and tomorrow other people in dire situations, not because we pity them or have compassion for their miserable lot, but because we believe in building and living in a just society that is profoundly humane at its core treatment of any human being.