United Kingdom: UK government’s controversial Rwanda bill violates international law and is incompatible with Britain’s human rights obligations, according to a parliamentary report.
The cross-party joint committee MPs and peers on human rights have conducted a critical examination of the security of the Rwanda bill, which is fast-tracking through Parliament. The bill aims to question the declaration of the Supreme Court, which came out last November that Rwanda is not a safe country from which UK asylum seekers can be forcibly removed.
In accordance with the bill, Rwanda is considered a safe country, and the UK government will not forcibly remove anyone to an unsafe country. Legal and human rights experts have criticized Rwanda’s government’s plan for safety, viability, and compliance with national and international law.
The report concludes that the bill, which will reach the House of Lords committee stage soon, fundamentally violates the human rights obligations of the United Kingdom. It vandalises the protections established in the Human Rights Act, violates particular elements of the European Convention on Human Rights, and fails to meet the UK’s commitment to adhere to international agreements.
The report remarks the concerns over the Rwanda policy, warning that the government’s moves to overturn some laws put the UK’s tough reputation for the rule of law and human rights “in jeopardy”. “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,” as per the reports.
The human rights organization Liberty testified that even if a court was presented with evidence that Rwanda is unsafe, it would have to ‘stick its fingers into its ears and pretend it was’. Although the bill says the country is safe to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, the majority of witnesses concluded the answer is no, the committee has said.
During the committee’s observation, it was noted that for the second time in a year, ministers were unable to confirm that a bill complied with the UK’s international obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The committee’s chair, Joanna Cherry MP, stated that, “This bill is designed to remove vital safeguards against persecution and human rights abuses, including the fundamental right to access a court. Hostility to human rights is at its heart and no amendments can salvage it. 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.”
A Home Office representative has said that, “We are committed to tackling this major global challenge with bold and innovative solutions, and the Rwanda scheme is doing just that. The bill we have introduced, and the treaty alongside it, are the best way of getting flights off to Rwanda as soon as possible.”
“Rwanda is clearly a safe country that cares deeply about supporting refugees. It hosts more than 135,000 asylum seekers and stands ready to relocate people and help them rebuild their lives,” the spokesperson added.
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