Thread by @FreefromTorture

Priti Patel’s anti-refugee bill goes to report stage today. Here's why it breaches international law according to legal experts 👇

A THREAD 🧵

1/

Priti Patel’s anti-refugee bill is the biggest overhaul that our asylum system has seen in decades

Her plans are not only cruel and inhumane but would also violate the UK’s legal commitment to the Refugee Convention, and European Convention on Human Rights.

2/

1⃣ If someone has travelled through a safe 3rd country, the UK govt will try to not consider their claim.

This violates 1 of the key pillars of the Refugee Convention, which states that you can't penalise a refugee because they have travelled irregularly to seek protection.

3/

So, refusing to consider their claim on this basis is unlawful.

It also creates a risk that the refugee will be removed to a country from which they may then be sent back to the country of persecution. This would also breach international human rights and refugee law.

4/

2⃣The plan proposes offshore processing of refugees- like the Australian model

This model has led to severe human rights violations & by implementing this, the UK risks defying legal obligations to protect people seeking safety and safeguard their human rights.

5/

3⃣Refugees whose claim for protection is recognised but who arrived by “irregular” means would be given a less protective and secure status with far fewer rights than those resettled to the UK

6/

❌ This would go against a central premise of the Refugee Convention, which does not allow for refugees to be penalised because they were obliged to travel irregularly to seek safety.

7/

4⃣The plan proposes a new “fast-track” system for processing claims, where the government will demand that all evidence is provided at once and to a deadline.

8/

But evidence, such as an independent expert medical report, is often given later in the process, as those who have experienced trauma often need time to process and share their experiences.

9/

❌Therefore this plan would penalise people who have experienced trauma and risk sending refugees back to countries where they face torture and persecution.

10/

This unfairness constitutes a breach of international law under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect people fleeing torture and persecution from the risk of return

11/

5⃣ Raising the legal standard of proof that applies to an asylum claim would breach international law by creating a risk that refugees who meet the definition within the Refugee Convention will be returned to persecution.

12/

The UNHCR advises that a relatively low standard of proof should apply in view of the difficulty refugees face in evidencing the risk of persecution on return, and the implications of getting the decision wrong.

13/

This Bill will put safety out of reach for many refugees by raising that legal standard.

14/

We can't let this cruel plan become law.

Retweet this thread & email your MP for a meeting now❗

action.freedomfromtorture.org/anti-refugee-b…

15/