The United Kingdom’s government proposal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has been sharply criticized in a parliamentary report, which claims the plan conflicts with the nation’s obligations under international human rights law.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights, comprising members from various political parties, issued a comprehensive 52-page critique stating that the proposed legislation to facilitate these asylum seekers’ deportations directly contradicts the UK’s international commitments.
The bill, which is swiftly moving through the legislative process, seeks to overturn a Supreme Court decision from November that deemed Rwanda an unsafe destination for deported asylum seekers.
It asserts Rwanda as a safe location and guarantees that asylum seekers sent there will not be further displaced to other unsafe territories.
However, Monday’s report highlighted the impracticality of such assurances, pointing out the potential for undermining the UK’s Human Rights Act protections, violating the European Convention on Human Rights, and neglecting the nation’s obligations under the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention.
The committee warned that this move could damage the UK’s reputation for protecting rights and limit the judiciary’s ability to hold the executive branch accountable by mandating them to regard Rwanda as safe, irrespective of their judgment.
“The bill’s near total exclusion of judicial scrutiny seeks to undermine the constitutional role of the domestic courts in holding the executive to account,” the report emphasizes.
Joanna Cherry, the committee’s chairperson, criticized the bill for eroding crucial protections against persecution and human rights abuses, including the fundamental right to access a court.
She said, “This isn’t just about the rights and wrongs of the Rwanda policy itself. By taking this approach, the bill risks untold damage to the UK’s reputation as a proponent of human rights internationally. “
“Hostility to human rights is at its heart, and no amendments can salvage it,” Cherry added, reflecting on testimonies from legal experts, academics, and NGOs.
The human rights organization Liberty provided testimony indicating that even if a court received evidence of Rwanda’s safety risks, it would be compelled to ignore it and proceed as if the country were safe.
The Conservative government’s focus on addressing “irregular immigration,” primarily via small boats across the English Channel, has met resistance from opposition parties and international organizations like the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Despite the backlash, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is gearing up for a general election this year, continues to prioritize this policy.
