Fri 11 November 2022:
On Thursday, the United Kingdom faced a barrage of questions and criticism on its immigration and anti-poverty policies in a UN review of its human rights record amid claims that it is regressing on freedoms.
Despite the fact that criticism is a common component of the UN process that takes place every few years, analysts said the level of examination of one of the most well-known democracies in the world from such a broad spectrum of states, including allies, was unusual.
One of the issues raised at the UN meeting in Geneva was the London plan to relocate asylum seekers who enter the country to Rwanda in order to combat an influx of refugees and migrants on its southern coast.
The deal, according to Luxembourg’s ambassador Marc Bichler, violates international law and “risks causing irreversible injury to persons seeking international protection.”
In written comments, the close ally United States questioned the practise and questioned how it could guarantee the safety of those sent to other nations.
“The fact that so many states made recommendations addressing the UK’s backsliding on human rights at home and abroad, its treatment of people seeking asylum, and its undermining of international standards shows their grave concern,” Emilie McDonnell from Human Rights Watch told Reuters.
“We can only hope this global spotlight leads the UK to change course.”
According to Mike Freer, a junior minister in the British Justice Department, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration is “totally dedicated” to defending and upholding human rights both domestically and internationally.
Freer went on to say that Rwanda was a safe, secure country with a track record of helping refugees.
No deportations have yet taken place, despite a last-minute intervention from the European Court of Human Rights preventing the first planned flight in June. A judicial review of the policy is currently being done by the High Court in London.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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