The UK Government’s plan to deport migrants to Rwanda violates fundamental human rights, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak views these plans – initially revealed by former PM Boris Johnson back in April 2022 – as a crucial part of his crusade against immigration. Sunak anticipates the first departures to occur before the elections, set for later this year. Last month, he identified this as an urgent national priority.
This legislation addresses the British Supreme Court’s rejection of earlier versions of the law concerning deportations to Rwanda. The court ruled that transferring migrants to Rwanda was unlawful as the country could not be deemed safe for them.
The UK Government wants to legally designate Rwanda as a safe third country to avoid scrutiny of the deportations. The revised law will also inhibit the return of migrants from Rwanda to their original countries.
Despite the adjustments, this proposal faces opposition, notably from the United Nations and the head of the Anglican Church.
Just last week, a parliamentary committee ruled the proposal "fundamentally incompatible" with UK’s human rights obligations. Questions mainly revolve around the insistence that courts consider Rwanda a safe haven and the limited appeal potential against deporting decisions.
Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, criticises this last aspect particularly. He calls for the matter to be reassessed.
