On behalf of UWE Bristol and The Students’ Union at UWE, we are writing to express our ongoing support for all in our community who are affected by the war and the devastating impact on civilians in the region. We are deeply saddened by the ongoing violence taking place in region, and we are horrified by the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives resulting from this conflict. We condemn all forms of violence, particularly those that target innocent people and their families who are simply trying to live their lives.
Students and staff across our community have been deeply affected by these events, and many in our community are concerned about the safety of loved ones in the region. Our thoughts continue to be with all of those killed, injured, displaced, or otherwise affected. No one should have to endure violence and devastation like this.
We ask everyone to understand that those around you may be feeling frightened, uncertain, or upset about these events. Please treat each other with respect and care. We are heartened to hear so many reports of our community reaching out to support each other – please continue to do so.
We note that The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza but has not ordered a ceasefire. The court has issued six provisional measures in South Africa's genocide case against Israel, and these include an order for Israel to take measures to ensure humanitarian access. This is an interim ruling, and the court won't rule on South Africa's genocide claims - which Israel strongly denies - for several years.
Preventing Antisemitism, Islamophobia or Abuse
The university is committed to providing an environment that is supportive and free of harassment, bullying and victimisation by any person, group or organisation whether student, employee or an external third party and confirm that our number one priority is to ensure that our university remains safe for all. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation and the impact on our community, and it has been concerning to see the increase in reports of incidents of racist, antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crime across the country following the terrorist attacks by Hamas and Israel's military response, and the tragic loss of civilian life on both sides. We are very grateful to those who have been able to share their experiences, highlighting that some of our students and colleagues at UWE Bristol have felt vulnerable.
We recognise there are strong views within our community regarding what has happened and may yet happen, and we support our students' rights to express their views within the law, however it is important to note that no one in our community should be held accountable for the actions we are witnessing – antisemitism, Islamophobia, abuse, or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.
Anyone in the UWE Bristol community experiencing or witnessing any form of discrimination, harassment or abuse, including antisemitism or Islamophobia, is urged to use the university’s Report and Support service to ensure that action can be taken. Behaviour which breaches UWE Bristol’s Student Conduct Policy could result in disciplinary proceedings. UWE’s on-campus Security team operates 24-hours a day and is available to support any member of our community by contacting 0117 32 86404.
If you would prefer to report an incident to community-led organisations, the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) has a welfare hotline that can be reached on 020 7424 3288, and Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) is able to support those facing Islamophobia on 0800 456 1226. SARI (Standing Against Racism and Inequality) are a Bristol bases charity and provides free and confidential support for anyone who is a victim of hate crime across Avon and Somerset, they can be reached on 0117 942 0060.
Support for students
Our thoughts are with all students and staff who have been affected by this, and we would like to remind students of the support services available to them.
Our first priority is to support affected students and staff. We have reached out to all our students from Israel and Palestine to offer support through our Global Centre. Our University, Chaplaincy and Students’ Union are working together to ensure all our students are supported as much as possible where they are affected by world crises. The University offers a range of emotional and wellbeing support for staff 24 hours a day through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and a range of other support is available to all. We also have many wellbeing support options available for all our students.
Advice and wellbeing support is available from The Students’ Union’s Advice Centre Team, who can provide you with friendly, non-judgemental and confidential support. The Advice Centre can also provide impartial advice and support for those who would like to discuss how to apply for mitigating circumstances or similar support. Click here to find their opening hours if you’d like to visit them in person or send an email to advice@uwe.ac.uk.
The university have a range of wellbeing and support services available to all UWE Bristol students, including:
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the above services if you require support during this time.
Strength in community
We know how deeply many in the community are feeling the impact of this war. The strength of our community is rooted in its diverse and global nature and our essence as a University and Students’ Union benefits hugely from that rich diversity. This is something that we should all value, cherish and protect in these most difficult of times.
We ask that as a community we stand together and support each other, mindful of our University’s and The Students’ Union values of inclusivity.
Professor Sir Steve West CBE (UWE Bristol's Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Officer)
Students’ Union President, Kolawole Samuel Olure (he/him)
Students’ Union Vice-President Community and Welfare, Fayaz Abdul Kareem (he/him)
Students’ Union Vice-President Education, Sabiha Khan (she/her)
Students’ Union Vice-President Societies and Communication, Bethel Ekaette (he/him)
Students’ Union Vice-President Sports and Health, Krishna Singh (he/him)