Home Secretary has signed a joint Treaty
with his counterpart, Foreign Minister, Dr Vincent Biruta,
strengthening the UK and Rwanda’s Migration and Economic
Development Partnership and directly addressing the concerns of
the Supreme Court.
The agreement is part of the government’s plan to ensure that
illegal migrants can be lawfully relocated to Rwanda under the
Government’s ambition to stop the boats – ensuring that people
know that if they come to the UK illegally, they cannot stay
here.
Following further positive discussions between the two countries
after the Supreme Court judgment, and building on months of work
between the two countries, the Treaty responds directly to the
conclusions of the Supreme Court and presents a new long-term
solution.
The landmark Treaty is binding in international law and ensures
that people relocated to Rwanda under the Partnership are not at
risk of being returned to a country where their life or freedom
would be threatened – an act known as
refoulement.
It also enhances the functions of the independent Monitoring
Committee to ensure compliance with the obligations in the
Treaty, such as reception conditions, processing of asylum
claims, and treatment and support for individuals including up to
5 years after they have received final determination of their
status. The Committee is made up of 8 independent members.
The Monitoring Committee will also develop a system which will
enable relocated individuals and legal representatives to lodge
confidential complaints directly to them. It will have the power
to set its own priority areas for monitoring, and have unfettered
access for the purposes of completing assessments and
reports. It may publish reports as it sees fit on its
findings.
To further bolster assurances that relocated individuals will not
be returned, under the Treaty, Rwanda’s asylum system will be
strengthened through a new Appeal Body. The Appeal Body will
consist of a Rwandan and other Commonwealth national
Co-President, and be composed of judges from a mixture of
nationalities with asylum and humanitarian protection expertise
(appointed by the Co-Presidents) to hear individual appeals.
Home Secretary said:
This is a crucial step forward in our commitment to stopping the
boats and saving lives.
Rwanda is a safe country that cares deeply about supporting
refugees. It has a strong history of providing protection to
those that need it, hosting over 135,000 asylum seekers who have
found sanctuary there. I am grateful to our Rwandan partners for
their willingness, dedication and commitment to strengthening
this Partnership further.
The Supreme Court recognised that changes may be delivered which
would address their conclusions – this Treaty responds directly
to that.
We remain steadfast in doing everything we can to stop to illegal
migration, and our wider, ongoing work operationally and
internationally has led to crossings coming down by a third
compared to last year.
Foreign Minister, Dr Vincent Biruta:
This partnership with the UK reflects Rwanda’s commitment to
protecting vulnerable people, and builds on our track record of
welcoming and hosting refugees and migrants from around the
world.
Rwanda and the UK both understand that there’s a critical need to
find innovative solutions to address the suffering of migrants
making dangerous, desperate journeys, under the exploitation of
criminal human smugglers.
The people relocated to Rwanda will be welcomed, and they will be
provided with both the safety and support they need to build new
lives.
Today’s Treaty signing, negotiated by the new Home Secretary,
sits alongside work with the Rwandans to strengthen their asylum
processes.
Since taking up his new role, the Home Secretary has been
focussed on ensuring that flights leave for Rwanda as soon as
possible.
The Treaty also charts a rights-based path for similar
collaboration with and between other countries. Countries across
Europe are now also exploring third country models for illegal
immigration – including Austria, Germany, Denmark and Italy in
their deal with Albania, a new and innovative model for
processing asylum claims.
The agreement goes hand-in-hand with wider action to stop the
boats, including under the Illegal Migration Act – the most
robust our country has ever seen – and our agreements with
countries including France, Albania, Turkey and
Italy.
It also comes ahead of new legislation announced by Prime
Minister , which will enable Parliament
to confirm that, with our new Treaty, Rwanda is safe.
As part of the Home Secretary’s first official visit to Rwanda,
he also attended the Kigali Genocide Memorial with Minister
Biruta to pay his respects and met with President Kagame and
Minister Biruta to further discuss joint working.
