The Home Office has refused to disclose audits, evaluations and oversight records relating to hundreds of millions of pounds paid to Rwanda under the abandoned asylum partnership, saying the cost of locating the information would exceed Freedom of Information limits.
What are the forces driving refugees across the Channel? What are they fleeing? What are they hoping for?
The High Court ruled that the UK government unlawfully housed vulnerable asylum seekers at RAF Wethersfield, prompting urgent calls from advocacy groups for immediate closure amid escalating humanitarian concerns.
The bombing of the Shabindu displacement camp in Goma, attributed to the Rwandan army and M23 rebels, highlights serious concerns about Rwanda's designation as a safe country for UK asylum seekers, amidst accusations of compromised press freedom and human rights abuses.
AOAV dives into the UK's contentious Rwanda asylum policy, highlighting the legal, ethical, and political waves it has generated
The UK's policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, amidst reports of the latter's support for M23 rebels and associated human rights abuses, presents a stark ethical dilemma and contradicts the notion of Rwanda as a safe country.
In response to the UK Supreme Court declaring its Rwanda asylum policy unlawful, the UK government is drafting emergency legislation to establish Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers. AOAV's Executive Director appeared on the BBC to argue that to establish this notion of safety would require proper scrutiny of Rwanda.
The UK Supreme Court has unanimously ruled the Rwanda asylum policy unlawful, citing substantial risks of refoulement and inadequate protection for asylum seekers.
Suella Braverman’s asylum barges are tied up with Britain’s imperial past, writes Iain Overton
Human rights concerns include police violence, discrimination, and the deportation of asylum seekers, prompting the need for Parliamentarians to cancel the scheme and advocate for improved refugee treatment through mechanisms like the Universal Periodic Review.
In his 2023 lecture at the Festival of Writing and Ideas, Dr. Iain Overton reflects on the persistent suffering of war victims throughout history, underscoring the critical need for empathy towards those fleeing from conflict zones, challenging discriminatory media rhetoric, and urging us to recognise our shared humanity in order to foster a compassionate, welcoming society.
The UK government's plans to move asylum seekers from hotels to alternative accommodation, including former military sites and even ferries, has been met with controversy and criticism, with concerns raised over the quality and safety of the proposed accommodation, as well as the government's obligation to provide adequate housing for both asylum seekers and military personnel.