NGOs fear UK's Rwanda deportation policy sets dangerous precedent for refugees in Europe

NGOs, faith leaders and parliamentarians have responded angrily to the UK high court’s decision to rule the controversial Rwanda asylum policy legal, fearing a 'domino effect' for migrant rights across Europe. 

"The court has concluded that it is lawful for the government to make arrangements for relocating asylum seekers to Rwanda and for their asylum claims to be determined in Rwanda rather than in the United Kingdom," said the judgement from Lord Justice Lewis on Monday. 

Thank you for your thoughts @RishiSunak but your government is pushing for a policy that would send Afghan girls to Rwanda if they arrived in UK of their own back. How would an Afghan woman/man fleeing for their lives seek sanctuary in UK with your dormant resettlement schemes? https://t.co/f0kygTejQg

— Sabir Zazai 🧡 (@sabir_zazai) December 22, 2022

Human rights organisations fear the ruling could set a dangerous precedent across Europe, as governments watch the UK road-test the viability of introducing asylum procedures in 'safe third countries'.  

"The responsibility for asylum is shifting from wealthy countries to other, so-called 'developing' countries," said Emilie McDonnell, advocacy officer at Human Rights Watch, during a discussion hosted on Twitter earlier this week.

"There is a domino effect" risked by the UK high court ruling, she said, which is "a real threat to the international protection of refugees."

The UN has also condemned the move.

"The UK-Rwanda arrangement contravenes the UK’s international obligations," said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The High Court has given the UK government the green light to expel asylum seekers to Rwanda, a country that is not safe for them.

Join our Twitter Space discussion tomorrow, w/ @ColinYeo1, @DetentionAction, @LewisMudge, @DrEmMcDonnell, @YasmineAhmed001.https://t.co/KSaZRgb5pU

— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) December 19, 2022

UN human rights chief Volker Turk also warned that similar "offshoring" schemes have led to "deeply inhuman" treatment of refugees – and if rolled out across Europe, would "raise very serious concerns". 

Since the controversial policy was announced by both the UK and Denmark governments earlier in 2022, several other European countries have been laying the groundwork for similar schemes. 

The European Union already solicits offshore asylum processing systems – paying Turkey billions of dollars each year to prevent refugees crossing to Greece by land.

It also controversially funds organisations such as the Libyan Coast Guard to prevent migration via Europe’s southern sea border. 

The European Commission, previously outspoken against the UK's scheme, is yet to react publicly to the high court ruling. 

Archbishop of York Dr. John Sentamu called the deal a "shameful moral failure" of the UK government. 

The NGOs involved in the legal battle have not given hope of overturning the ruling yet. Appeal proceedings are expected on 16 January and could end up escalating to the Supreme Court – the UK's final appeal court.