Rwanda migration policy breaks international law, says UN agency
The UK'S proposal to send migrants who arrive in Britain unlawfully to Rwanda is "unacceptable" and a breach of international law, the UN'S refugee agency said.
The Government announced this week it plans to provide failed asylum seekers, including those crossing the Channel in small boats, with a one-way ticket to Rwanda, where they will have the right to apply to live in the African country.
Gilliantriggs,anassistantsecretary-general at the UNHCR, said the agency "strongly condemns outsourcing the primary responsibility to consider the refugee status", as laid out in the scheme put forward by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World At One programme, the formerpresidentoftheaustralianhumanrightscommission said the policy was a "troubling development", particularly in the light of countries taking in millions of Ukrainian refugees displaced by the conflict in eastern Europe.
Put to her that Australia had effectively deployed a similar tactic to cut migration numbers, Ms Triggs said: "My point is,justastheaustralianpolicyis an egregious breach of international law and refugee law and human rights law, so too is this proposal by the United Kingdom Government.
"It is very unusual, very few states have tried this, and the purpose is primarily deterrent - and it can be effective, I don't think we're denying that.
"But what we're saying at the UN refugee agency is that there are much more legally effective ways of achieving the same outcome."
She said attempting to "shift responsibility"forasylumseekersarrivinginbritainwas"really unacceptable".
Ms Triggs pointed out that Israel had attempted to send Eritreanandsudaneserefugees to Rwanda, but that they "simply left the country and started the process all over again".
"In other words, it is not actually a long-term deterrent," she added.
Tom Pursglove, minister for justice and tackling illegal migration, said yesterday that the policy was "in line" with the UK'S legal obligations.
However, he accepted that it would be "difficult" to implement the plan to remove asylum seekers to Rwanda, with the Government braced for legal challenges.
He told Times Radio: "I think what is also really important to make (clear) in dealing with that issue is that, at all times, we act in accordance with our international obligations, the ECHR (European Convention onhumanrights)andtherefugee convention.
"We are absolutely confident that our policies are in line with that and entirely compliant, which by extension would mean that those legal challenges would be without merit.
"But it will be difficult, there will be challenges."
Mr Pursglove also suggested during broadcast interviews that other countries in Europe were considering emulating the UK'S Rwandan policy, which he described as a "world first".
He said there was a "moral imperative" to crush the business model of human traffickers and avoid a tragedy like that seen in November, when a dinghy sank in the English Channel, drowning dozens of migrants heading to Britain.