Geneva, The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has issued a stern warning about the United Kingdom’s legislative efforts to expedite the removal of asylum-seekers to Rwanda. Turk highlighted that these measures, which significantly limit judicial review of removal decisions, not only contravene the rule of law but also pose a severe threat to human rights. The UN’s critique centers on the UK’s Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, which mandates an unequivocal assumption of Rwanda as a “safe country” for refugees and asylum-seekers, disregarding any existing or future evidence to the contrary.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Turk criticized the UK’s approach for essentially attempting to legislate reality away, emphasizing the importance of judicial oversight in matters with profound human rights implications. The High Commissioner’s remarks reflect deep concern over the Bill’s potential to erode the protections afforded by the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights within the UK. Moreover, Turk pointed out the problematic nature of making the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights’ interim protective orders discretionary, which are binding on the UK.
The High Commissioner’s statement also aligns with separate apprehensions voiced by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), with both UN bodies sharing the view that the UK’s plan is incompatible with international refugee law. Turk’s critique underscores the fundamental principle that independent judicial oversight is essential to the rule of law and must be preserved to ensure that governments remain accountable to their international human rights and asylum-related commitments.
This development comes in the wake of the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights releasing a report that raises significant concerns regarding the Bill’s implications for human rights and the rule of law. Turk has called for a reconsideration of the Bill, urging the UK government to align its actions with international legal obligations and to maintain the country’s longstanding tradition of independent judicial scrutiny.