RWANDA DEPORTATION POLICY
In April 2022, the UK government announced a 5-year trial that sought to deport people seeking asylum that arrived in the UK via informal channels to Rwanda. This follows the integration of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 into government policy, which dictates that those arriving in the UK ‘illegally’ will be detained and deported to a safe third country. The government’s proposed intention for the Rwanda policy is to deter people arriving in the UK through “illegal, dangerous or unnecessary methods”, such as on small boats across the English Channel.
We, at African Rainbow Family, along with many organisations, groups and individuals in the UK, condemn the Rwanda policy as a violation of an individual’s right to seek protection from harm. While we oppose deportation as an immigration strategy in general, in particular, we stand against the idea that Rwanda is a safe third country for LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum to be sent.
In Rwanda, LGBTIQ+ individuals face safety concerns due to societal attitudes and legal gaps. While there is no explicit law criminalizing same-sex relationships, there is no legal protection against discrimination or hate crimes. Traditional beliefs and cultural norms often lead to stigmatisation and violence against LGBTIQ+ individuals. Limited advocacy and support further compound these challenges, making it unsafe for many to openly express their identities. In fact, African Rainbow Family supports several service users who have fled from Rwanda due to being targeted as a result of their LGBTIQ+ identities. We strongly urge the government to rescind the Rwanda policy as soon as possible, both for the protection of LGBTIQ+ people and for anyone who is seeking asylum.
CLICK HERE TO READ OUR RESPONSE TO THE SUPREME COURT’S RULING!
As of November 2023, the UK Supreme Court have unanimously ruled the Rwanda policy to be unlawful, given that no proper assessment on the safety of Rwanda for people seeking asylum had been carried out. This is a delightful reprieve, however we worry that it is temporary. As of November 2023, the government has invested £140 million in the scheme according to some reports. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has shared that he has full intention to continue with the policy regardless of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
In opposition to this, we encourage all our supporters to sign our petition, demanding for the UK government to end the practice of deporting LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum.
We also encourage you to sign a petition by our colleagues and friends at Freedom From Torture, which aims to stop any flights to Rwanda for all people seeking asylum in the UK