News Comment: UNHCR welcomes UK Court of Appeal judgment on transfer of asylum-seekers from the UK to Rwanda

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the judgment of the UK Court of Appeal issued today with regard to the proposed transfer of asylum-seekers from the UK to Rwanda.

UNHCR’s role in litigation regarding the UK’s intention to transfer asylum-seekers to Rwanda has throughout the case been in line with UNHCR’s global supervisory responsibilities regarding the implementation of the 1951 Refugee Convention. We are not a claimant in the proceedings but advised the court on matters of international refugee law. 

In our submissions to the court, UNHCR expressed its longstanding and well-known concerns about the “externalization” of asylum obligations. We continue to urge the Government of the United Kingdom to instead pursue other measures, including cooperation with the UK’s European neighbours and fair and fast asylum procedures, that would be more humane, efficient, and cost-effective.

For more information, please contact:

• In Geneva, Natalia Prokopchuk, [email protected], +41 79 824 0575
• In Geneva, Louise Donovan, [email protected]; +41 79 217 3058
• In Geneva, Eujin Byun, [email protected], +41 79 747 87 19