UK and France's "One in, One Out" Asylum Scheme Under Fire from UN Experts Over Alleged Human Rights Abuses
A stark warning has been issued to the UK and France over their controversial "one in, one out" asylum scheme by nine UN experts, who have accused the two governments of potentially breaching international human rights law.
The scheme, which aims to reduce immigration through a system where one migrant is returned to France for every one accepted in the UK, has been criticized for its arbitrary nature and lack of transparency. The UN experts claim that individuals are being subjected to "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" while being detained in preparation for deportation.
Detailed case studies have been compiled by the experts, which document the treatment of asylum seekers from Sudan, Gaza, Eritrea, Yemen, and Iran who were part of the scheme. Many of these individuals had experienced trauma, including torture and trafficking, and were subsequently subjected to further distressing conditions while in detention.
One particularly disturbing case involves a man from Eritrea who was not allowed to wear shoes during his removal, with guards placing their boots on his neck. A woman from Yemen, who claimed to have been enslaved since the age of three, was deemed by the Home Office to be an "unreliable" witness due to her lack of immediate disclosure of her trafficking history.
The UN experts have expressed deep concern that the agreement between the two governments may result in "serious violations of international human rights law." They have received information suggesting that children and vulnerable individuals are being disproportionately affected by the scheme, which they claim is causing new situations of vulnerability and exacerbating existing ones.
The letter, which was published last week, poses several questions to the UK and French governments regarding unpublished information about the scheme, including the arbitrary nature of who is selected for detention. The experts also call on the UK government to end its agreement with France and ensure that migration governance measures respect, protect, and fulfill human rights.
Bella Mosselmans, director of the Global Strategic Litigation Council for refugee rights, has backed the UN experts' call for the scheme to be scrapped, stating that people who have been directly affected by these policies have stood up for themselves, speaking out about their fear, detention, and harm. She claims that continuing to implement the scheme despite the warnings is "indefensible."
The UK Home Office has maintained its confidence in the pilot's legal basis, while a UNHCR spokesperson said they are engaged in ongoing dialogue with both governments to address concerns and observations directly with relevant authorities.
A stark warning has been issued to the UK and France over their controversial "one in, one out" asylum scheme by nine UN experts, who have accused the two governments of potentially breaching international human rights law.
The scheme, which aims to reduce immigration through a system where one migrant is returned to France for every one accepted in the UK, has been criticized for its arbitrary nature and lack of transparency. The UN experts claim that individuals are being subjected to "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" while being detained in preparation for deportation.
Detailed case studies have been compiled by the experts, which document the treatment of asylum seekers from Sudan, Gaza, Eritrea, Yemen, and Iran who were part of the scheme. Many of these individuals had experienced trauma, including torture and trafficking, and were subsequently subjected to further distressing conditions while in detention.
One particularly disturbing case involves a man from Eritrea who was not allowed to wear shoes during his removal, with guards placing their boots on his neck. A woman from Yemen, who claimed to have been enslaved since the age of three, was deemed by the Home Office to be an "unreliable" witness due to her lack of immediate disclosure of her trafficking history.
The UN experts have expressed deep concern that the agreement between the two governments may result in "serious violations of international human rights law." They have received information suggesting that children and vulnerable individuals are being disproportionately affected by the scheme, which they claim is causing new situations of vulnerability and exacerbating existing ones.
The letter, which was published last week, poses several questions to the UK and French governments regarding unpublished information about the scheme, including the arbitrary nature of who is selected for detention. The experts also call on the UK government to end its agreement with France and ensure that migration governance measures respect, protect, and fulfill human rights.
Bella Mosselmans, director of the Global Strategic Litigation Council for refugee rights, has backed the UN experts' call for the scheme to be scrapped, stating that people who have been directly affected by these policies have stood up for themselves, speaking out about their fear, detention, and harm. She claims that continuing to implement the scheme despite the warnings is "indefensible."
The UK Home Office has maintained its confidence in the pilot's legal basis, while a UNHCR spokesperson said they are engaged in ongoing dialogue with both governments to address concerns and observations directly with relevant authorities.
i mean i get that govts gotta make laws but come on UK & France can't just start detaining people like animals 
no shoes for some guy from eritrea 
that's not human rights material at all... i'm so glad there are ppl like bella mosselmans standing up for refugees' rights 
they're not just victims, they're people with stories & trauma 
the UN experts are right, this scheme is a recipe for disaster 
we need better solutions for migration, not one that puts ppl through hell 
! Like, I can't even imagine being in someone's shoes (no pun intended) and then having the system turn on you 
. The fact that they're treating people like animals and putting boots on their necks is just...wow 
. This scheme is just a recipe for disaster 
and treating them like pieces of luggage 
no shoes on the neck?! 
that's some serious cruelty 
we gotta stand up for these ppl who are suffering 
the UN experts are on point 
it's time for our governments to listen 
and end this scheme ASAP 
let's give a big 
of support to those who have spoken out against it 
and now the UN is all like "hold up, this is human rights abuse city" 
. Who knew asylum seekers were more than just a checkbox on a spreadsheet? They got trauma, they got torture, they got forced to wear someone else's boots on their head... what even is that? 
and now we're worried about kids getting left behind 
, like there's some hidden agenda at play. first of all, why is it that only certain countries' asylum seekers are being targeted? seems like an unfair burden on those already vulnerable people. and what's up with the "one in, one out" scheme itself? it sounds like a way to just clear out undesirables from both countries without really addressing the root issues of immigration. and all this talk about arbitrary detention and human rights abuses... it's starting to sound like some governments are more interested in maintaining power than doing what's right. 
, anyone who's been affected by these policies has spoken out about their pain & suffering and ppl should be listening 
...the UN experts are right on the money with this one 
. The idea of an asylum scheme where one person is returned for every one accepted just seems so arbitrary 
. What if the person being sent back has a legitimate claim? It's like they're taking away people's hopes and dreams to "balance" the numbers. And what about all these detailed case studies that show individuals being subjected to trauma and distress? 
. We need to stand with the victims and demand better treatment for those fleeing persecution. Let's make sure we're prioritizing human dignity over politics 
one in, one out is a total joke 
and fair 
especially with all the stories of torture, trafficking, and exploitation being shared 
it's not right 
. It's absolutely appalling that the UN experts are sounding the alarm about this scheme, and I hope they continue to pressure the UK and French governments to take action.
. It's clear that the Home Office is more concerned with 'governance' than actual human rights.
. We need to take a step back and ask ourselves what we're actually doing here – are we trying to protect human rights or just perpetuate more harm? 
it's not just about "one in, one out", it's about the humans involved - ppl who have been thru trauma and are tryin to escape for their lives... 
they need 2 stop dis scheme ASAP b4 more ppl get hurt
this one in, one out asylum scheme is super dodgy imo 
. it sounds like they're basically ignoring the trauma people have already experienced, and adding more distress on top of that is just cruel