Top human rights official expresses significant concerns over Rwanda bill | World News

The Rwanda bill aimed at curbing the number of small boats crossing the Channel has sparked major concerns among human rights officials. Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, has called for key clauses in the bill to be reversed, expressing worry over the potential removal of people to Rwanda without proper assessment of their asylum claims by UK authorities.

O’Flaherty emphasized the importance of managing asylum and migration in compliance with international standards, urging the British government to refrain from implementing the Rwanda policy. His intervention comes on the heels of a tragic incident where at least five migrants, including a seven-year-old girl, lost their lives while attempting to cross the Channel on an overcrowded small boat.

The Rwanda bill, which finally passed the House of Lords after a lengthy struggle, is aimed at deterring dangerous journeys and limiting the activities of people smugglers, according to Rishi Sunak. However, human rights groups have criticized the legislation as inhumane and cruel.

O’Flaherty also raised concerns about the potential deportation of migrants from Rwanda back to their countries of origin, contrary to international law. He criticized the bill’s infringement on judicial independence and highlighted the broader trend among European nations to “externalize” asylum and migration policies, which he believes poses a threat to the global system of refugee rights protection.