Children’s charities condemn plans to send refugees to Rwanda
Fiona Simpson
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Children’s rights charities have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary criticising plans to send asylum seekers who arrive in the UK to Rwanda.
The new asylum policy, announced by Priti Patel last week, will see refugees who reach the UK through illegal routes deported to Rwanda on chartered flights as early as May.
Organisations supporting vulnerable children and refugees have signed an open letter condemning the “shamefully cruel” plans.
It will “result in more, not fewer, dangerous journeys – leaving more people at risk of being trafficked”, the letter states, adding that it is “a breach of the Refugee Convention”.
Charities including Children England, Article 39, the Children’s Law Centre, the Refugee Youth Service and the Refugee Council are among more than 150 organisations to sign the letter.
They are calling for the controversial Nationality and Borders Bill, which contains legislation on plans to send refugees to Rwanda, to be scrapped.
Children’s rights campaigners have previously raised concerns that the bill could lead to increased trafficking and exploitation of refugee children.
“The ultimate victims will be the most vulnerable in our society, who, in attempting to rebuild their lives after experiencing persecution, will be put at risk of experiencing further human rights abuses and taking their own lives.” the letter states.
It comes as former Prime Minister and Home Secretary Theresa May questioned Patel over the plans in the House of Commons.
“I understand that those who will be removed will only be young men, that families will not be... well, the Home Secretary is shaking her head so I've obviously misunderstood the policy in that sense.
"But if it is the case that families will not be broken up, and the home secretary is nodding, does she not believe and where is her evidence that this will not simply lead to an increase in the trafficking of women and children?" she said.
Patel told MPs that “everyone who is considered for relocation will be screened and interviewed including an age assessment and have access to legal services."
