Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Transferring Asylum Seekers to Rwanda: Government’s Equalities Policy

Wednesday 13 July 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rwanda is considered safe and respects the rule of law by the UK Government.
  • The UK will only work with countries that ensure safety and
  • A robust country assessment will inform relocation decisions for individual cases.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Owen Thompson SNP
Asylum & Refugees Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from concerns about the UK Government's migration and economic development partnership with Rwanda, particularly regarding its impact on equalities policy, LGBTQI refugees, and those with protected characteristics.

Question

If she will make an assessment of the potential effect of transferring asylum seekers to Rwanda under the migration and economic development partnership on (a) the Government's equalities policy, (b) LGBTQI refugees and (c) refugees with protected characteristics.

Answer from Amanda Solloway

Rwanda is a safe and secure country with respect for the rule of law. We would only ever work with countries that we know are safe, and we will treat asylum seekers in accordance with the relevant international human rights laws. Furthermore, Rwanda's constitution includes a broad prohibition on discrimination.

Partly answered

Not addressed: (b) LGBTQI refugees and (c) refugees with protected characteristics

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Q2 Owen Thompson SNP
Asylum & Refugees Women & Equalities
Context

The question is prompted by UN criticism that the UK Government's Rwanda policy breaches international law and concerns over safety for LGBTQI+ people and women fleeing gender-based violence, as stated by Women for Refugee Women.

Question

The United Nations said that the UK Government's cruel Rwanda policy breaches international law. The Home Office's equalities impact assessment of the policy clearly states the dangers for LGBTQI+ people and the UK Government's website advises against travel to Rwanda for LGBTQI+ people. Women for Refugee Women stated that threatening the removal to Rwanda of women fleeing gender-based violence exposes them to further risk of violence and harm. How can the UK Government justify this cruel policy?

Answer from Amanda Solloway

We have published a robust country assessment, which will be used by caseworkers to inform relocation decisions for each individual case. Nobody will be relocated if it is unsafe to do so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Dangers for LGBTQI+ individuals and women fleeing gender-based violence

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