Just hours after the vote in the British Parliament on the highly controversial “Rwanda Security” bill, passed by Rishi Sunak’s government and aimed at the deportation to Rwanda of asylum seekers who entered the United Kingdom illegally, the United Nations (UN) has called on the British government to “reconsider your plan”Tuesday, April 23, by press release.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and his refugee counterpart, Filippo Grandi, call on the United Kingdom “Instead, take practical measures to combat irregular flows of refugees and migrants, based on international cooperation and respect for international human rights law.”.

Announced two years ago by the ruling Conservative government and presented as a flagship measure of its policy to combat illegal immigration, this project aims to send to Rwanda asylum seekers who – wherever they come from – have entered the United Kingdom illegally, including by crossing the English Channel border in boats.

Backed by a new treaty between London and Kigali, which provides for the payment of significant sums to Rwanda in exchange for taking in migrants, the text voted on Monday night was intended to respond to the conclusions of the Supreme Court, which had ruled the initial project illegal last November.

“Dangerous precedent”

“This new legislation seriously undermines the rule of law in the UK and sets a dangerous precedent around the world”Türk insists, stressing that it shifts responsibility from refugees, reduces the capacity of British courts, restricts access to legal remedies in the UK and limits the scope of national and international human rights protections.

“Protecting refugees requires all countries to – and not only neighbors in crisis zones – to fulfil its obligations. This agreement aims to defer responsibility for refugee protection, thereby undermining international cooperation and setting a worrying global precedent.”Filippo Grandi also denounces this.

They say the new legislation is the third in a series of British laws “Increasingly restrictive measures have eroded access to refugee protection in the UK since 2022, including by prohibiting access to asylum or other forms of permission to remain in the UK for people arriving irregularly via a third country.” “If implemented”the text “It would pave the way for asylum seekers, including families with children, to be summarily sent to Rwanda to lodge their asylum claims, with no prospect of returning to the UK”it adds.

The Council of Europe has also called on London to reconsider its plan and expressed its concerns regarding human rights. “I have serious human rights concerns about the UK’s Rwanda Bill. Its adoption by the UK Parliament raises important questions regarding the rights of asylum seekers and the rule of law.”, reactedmy Council Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, in a press release.

The Council of Europe, which brings together forty-six members, including the United Kingdom, is the depositary of the European Convention on Human Rights. The latter had interrupted at the last minute, in June 2022, a first flight scheduled for Rwanda.

Kigali “satisfied” with vote

“We are pleased that the British Parliament has approved the bill”declared, as expected, on Tuesday the Rwandan government through its spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse. She added that the authorities in Kigali were “I look forward to welcoming the people relocated to Rwanda”.

The bill defines Rwanda as a safe third country. This country in the Great Lakes region presents itself as one of the most stable on the African continent. However, Paul Kagame, vice-president of this republic (from 1994 to 2000) and then president (since 2000), is accused of governing in a climate of fear, of repressing dissent and freedom of expression. “We have worked hard over the past thirty years to make Rwanda a safe country for both Rwandans and non-Rwandans”For his part, M assured^me Makolo.

After reaching a record high in 2022 (45,000) and declining in 2023 (almost 30,000), the number of people crossing the English Channel illegally aboard makeshift canoes has increased by more than 20% since the beginning of the year compared to last year.