Airlines are urged not to facilitate asylum transfers between Britain and Rwanda

Two years ago, London announced the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP), now called the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) Asylum partnership between Britain and Rwandastating that asylum seekers in Britain would be sent to Rwanda before their cases could be heard.

The national Rwandan asylum system would then take into account their need for international protection.

In November 2023, the UK Supreme Court said the policy was unlawful due to security concerns in Rwanda. In response, Britain and Rwanda created the new bill, which, among other things, declared Rwanda a safe country.

Risk of refoulement

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is working to get the bill passed and recently said the first flight carrying asylum seekers would depart in 10 to 12 weeks around July, according to international media reports.

However, the UN special rapporteurs warned that taking asylum seekers to Rwanda or anywhere else could put airlines and aviation authorities at risk refoulement – the forced return of refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they may face persecution, torture or other serious harm – “which would constitute a violation of the right to be free from torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” .

The experts said that “even if the Britain-Rwanda agreement and Rwanda security bill are approved, airlines and aviation regulators could be complicit in violating internationally protected human rights and court orders by facilitating deportations to Rwanda. ”

They added that airlines should be held accountable if they assist in the removal of asylum seekers from Britain.

The UN experts have been in contact with the UK government and national, European and international aviation regulators to remind them of their responsibilities, including under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The UN Human Rights Council appoints special rapporteurs to monitor and report on global situations and issues. They serve in their individual capacities, are not UN staff, are independent of any government or organization and are not compensated for their work.