The United Nations Office at Geneva

Multimedia Newsroom

Edited News Press Conferences Statements Images B-roll Conferences Upcoming All Stories
Register Login
UK - Rwanda asylum law: OHCHR - UNHCR
/
2:43
/
MP4
/
199.4 MB
Download Expired

Edited News | OHCHR , UNHCR

UK - Rwanda asylum law: OHCHR - UNHCR

ENG FRA
UK-Rwanda asylum law likely to have harmful consequences, say UN High Commissioners
As the United Kingdom passed a controversial bill to send asylum seekers to Rwanda late on Monday, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, and Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, jointly objected to the law's likely negative effects on global responsibility-sharing, human rights, and refugee protection.
“Filippo Grandi and Volker Türk are calling on the UK government to reconsider its plan to transfer asylum seekers to Rwanda, and instead to take practical measures to address irregular flows of refugees and migrants based on international cooperation and respect for international human rights law,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at a news briefing on Tuesday at the United Nations in Geneva.
The UK government has signed an agreement with Rwanda that would allow it to send asylum-seekers to the African country to have their cases decided.
“This new legislation seriously hinders the rule of law in the UK, and it sets a perilous precedent globally,” stressed Ms. Shamdasani. “It is critical to the protection of the human rights and dignity of refugees and migrants seeking protection that all removals from the UK are carried out after assessing their specific individual circumstances in strict compliance with international human rights and refugee law.”
The passing of this landmark legislation presents a fundamental change in the global equation on migration.
“Under the UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership, asylum seekers in the UK will be transferred to Rwanda before their claims for asylum can be heard in the UK,” said Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR’s spokesperson. “We think that that is being inconsistent with global solidarity and responsibility sharing and is also in breach of the 1951 Refugee Convention, to which the UK is, of course, a signatory."
The measure will drastically limit the ability for UK asylum-seekers to challenge or appeal removal decisions, with decision-makers and judges required to conclusively treat Rwanda as a “safe” country in terms of protecting asylum-seekers – regardless of any evidence to the contrary, now or in the future. The new legislation expressly authorizes the UK Government to disregard any protective interim remedies from the European Court of Human Rights.
“The UK continues to receive relatively modest numbers of asylum seekers. We know that those go up and down, and we know that the increases, particularly in the arrivals of small boats, do create important challenges for the country,” stressed Mr. Saltmarsh. “But it's also important to remember that those numbers are relatively modest when compared to their European peers, but also, of course, when compared to major refugee hosts in regions like Africa.”
Acknowledging the challenges presented by the irregular movement of refugees and migrants, often in dangerous circumstances, the UN humanitarians nonetheless expressed grave concern that the legislation would facilitate transfers under the UK-Rwanda asylum partnership, with only limited consideration of their individual circumstances or any protection risks.
“There is a very important difference in what we're doing and what is being proposed by the UK,” stressed UNHCR’s spokesperson. “UNHCR does have an emergency transit mechanism, but this program is, as the name suggests, an emergency mechanism. It's temporary and it's voluntary, and it serves a very specific, limited purpose. It's a facility for receiving refugees, whose human rights and in some cases, lives, are at immediate risk.”
The new legislation is the third in a series of progressively restrictive UK laws that have eroded access to refugee protection in the UK since 2022, including through a ban on access to asylum or other forms of permission to stay in the UK for those arriving irregularly via a third country. If enforced, the law would facilitate the swift transfer of asylum-seekers, including families with children, to Rwanda to present their asylum applications, with no opportunity for repatriation to the UK.
-ends-

STORY: UK-Rwanda asylum law – OHCHR, UNHCR

TRT: 2:43”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 23 April 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Med shot: UN flag alley

2. Wide shot: speakers at the podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Filippo Grandi and Volker Turk are calling on the UK government to reconsider its plan to transfer asylum seekers to Rwanda, and instead to take practical measures to address irregular flows of refugees and migrants based on international cooperation and respect for international human rights law.”

4. Wide shot: Speakers at the podium with journalists in press room

5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “This new legislation seriously hinders the rule of law in the UK, and it sets a perilous precedent globally. It is critical to the protection of the human rights and dignity of refugees and migrants seeking protection that all removals from the UK are carried out after assessing their specific individual circumstances in strict compliance with international human rights and refugee law.”

6. Wide shot, press briefing room with speakers at the podium and journalists

7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “Under the UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership, asylum seekers in the UK will be transferred to Rwanda before their claims for asylum can be heard in the UK. And we think that that is being inconsistent with global solidarity and responsibility sharing and is also in breach of the 1951 Refugee Convention, to which the UK is, of course, a signatory. “

8. Med shot: Journalists in press room

9. SOUNDBITE (English) - Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “The UK continues to receive relatively modest numbers of asylum seekers. We know that those go up and down, and we know that the increases, particularly in the arrivals of small boats do create important challenges for the country. But it's also important to remember that those numbers are relatively modest when compared to their European peers, but also, of course, when compared to major refugee hosts in regions like Africa.”

10. Wide shot, press briefing room with journalists

11. SOUNDBITE (English) - Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “There is a very important difference in what we're doing and what is being proposed by the UK. UNHCR does have an emergency transit mechanism, but this program is, as the name suggests, an emergency mechanism. It's temporary and it's voluntary, and it serves a very specific, limited purpose. It's a facility for receiving refugees, whose human rights and in some cases, lives, are at immediate risk.”

12. Med shot, press briefing room with journalists

13. Close up: Journalist listening

14. Wide shot: Zoom operators behind the windows with camerawoman in front of it

Videos 1
UK - Rwanda asylum law: OHCHR - UNHCR
2:43
/
MP4
/
199.4 MB
/
EDITED STORY
Audio Files 1
Download UK - Rwanda asylum law: OHCHR - UNHCR (Edited Story)
Download Expired

Similar Stories

Update on the situation in the South of Lebanon from UNIFIL

1

1

1

Edited News | UNIFIL

Update on the situation in the South of Lebanon from UNIFIL ENG FRA

Ceasefire reduces violence in South Lebanon, but challenges remain as communities face devastation.

Ebola DRC update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Ebola DRC update - WHO ENG FRA

Ebola continues to spread in DRC, death toll passes 500 – WHO

The outbreak of the deadly Bundibugyo species of Ebola in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expanding, while the push to accelerate testing and identify effective treatment options continues, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Global Dialogue on AI Governance - Opening session

2

1

2

Statements , Conferences , Edited News | ITU , ODET , PGA , UN , UNESCO

Global Dialogue on AI Governance - Opening session ENG FRA

UN chief António Guterres appealed on Monday for far-reaching, worldwide controls on Artificial Intelligence, as increasingly powerful AI chips that are designed for civilian use shift to the battlefield, where “killer robots” are already the norm.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s remarks during the Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue on Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s remarks during the Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue on Ukraine ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk addressed the 62nd Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue on Ukraine.

El Niño alert - WMO

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

El Niño alert - WMO ENG FRA

More blistering heatwaves and other weather extremes are increasingly likely across the world now and in coming months linked to strengthening El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday.

Sudan UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s remarks during the Human Rights Council urgent debate on situation in El Obeid, Sudan

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

Sudan UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s remarks during the Human Rights Council urgent debate on situation in El Obeid, Sudan ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk this morning addressed the 62nd Human Rights Council during the urgent debate on the human rights situation in and around El Obeid, in Sudan. 

Venezuela earthquake aftermath - UNHCR, WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR , WHO

Venezuela earthquake aftermath - UNHCR, WHO ENG FRA

Venezuela earthquake aftermath: ‘breakdown of basic services’, disease risks and health workers missing – UN agencies

As search and rescue operations continue in Venezuela thousands of displaced people are struggling to find shelter while infectious diseases threaten to spread, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk remarks to the Human Rights Council on Venezuela

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk remarks to the Human Rights Council on Venezuela ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today addressed the 62 Human Rights Council and made the following remarks on the report on Venezuela. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Marta Hurtado alarmed at deaths in ICE custody, calls for urgent preventive action

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Marta Hurtado alarmed at deaths in ICE custody, calls for urgent preventive action ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Friday called for action to prevent more deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, as well as for investigations and accountability.

Venezuela earthquake response - OCHA, IOM, PAHO, UNHCR, OHCHR, IFRC

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , IOM , paho , UNHCR , OHCHR , IFRC

Venezuela earthquake response - OCHA, IOM, PAHO, UNHCR, OHCHR, IFRC ENG FRA

Aid agencies on Friday highlighted massive needs across Venezuela caused by a double earthquake disaster that has killed at least 235 people so far, with search and rescue for people trapped under the rubble still the top priority.

Sudan UN Human Rights spokesperson Seif Magango on sexual violence in conflict

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

Sudan UN Human Rights spokesperson Seif Magango on sexual violence in conflict ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following remarks at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, on the latest report on sexual violence in the Sudanese conflict. 

Ebola DRC update - WHO, IOM, IFRC

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , IOM , IFRC

Ebola DRC update - WHO, IOM, IFRC ENG FRA

Ebola in DRC: first month of outbreak sees record number of cases – UN humanitarians

Ebola has been spreading at unprecedented speed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bringing risk and fear into people’s daily lives, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.