The United Kingdom Parliament passed the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, designating Rwanda as a “safe third country” amidst concerns and criticism.
Key Highlight of the Rwanda Asylum Bill:
- This legislative move comes as the UK Parliament identifies Rwanda as a “safe third country.”
- The bill is specifically designed to address the significant increase in migrants arriving by small boats, a number that has escalated from 299 in 2018 to 45,774 in 2022.
- The bill aims to manage the sharp rise in migrant arrivals effectively.
- It responds to a Supreme Court ruling that raised questions about Rwanda’s adequacy as a host country, due to human rights concerns.
- A new treaty between the UK and Rwanda, signed in December 2023, has introduced enhanced protections for migrants.
Concerns and Criticism:
- The legislation challenges existing legal frameworks, compelling courts to regard Rwanda as a safe destination despite previous rulings.
- Human rights advocates are alarmed about the potential for mistreatment of asylum seekers in Rwanda and the risk of violating the principle of non-refoulment, which prevents returning individuals to a country where they may face harm.
- The UNHCR has criticized the approach, viewing it as treating asylum seekers as commodities. Moreover, opposition parties have labelled the plan both costly and ineffective.
- Both the UK Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) have reservations about Rwanda’s capacity to ensure humane treatment for asylum seekers.
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