Denmark is negotiating with Rwanda to send asylum seekers to the African country in exchange for money, the type of agreement announced a week ago between the UK and the Rwandan government for which London will spend 120 million pounds (about 144 million euros). ) to get rid of refugees coming through the English Channel.
Denmark has tightened its immigration policy in recent years, and in 2020, it passed a law allowing refugees to be transferred to asylum centers in a third country. “Our dialogue with the Rwandan government includes a mechanism for the transfer of asylum seekers,” Danish Immigration Minister Matthias Tesfaye told Reuters. Tesfaye – specifically the son of an Ethiopian refugee – visited Rwanda last summer and had previously seen other countries, such as Ethiopia and Tunisia.
Danish law requires asylum seekers to submit their claims in person at the border. The person concerned is then transferred to Rwanda pending whether or not he is granted asylum, in imitation of the Anglo-Rwandan Agreement.
The Danish initiative drew criticism from human rights advocates, the United Nations and the European Commission, which stated that it was “not possible” under EU law to transfer refugees outside European territory. The Danish Refugee Council, a non-governmental organization, described the intention to deport the migrants as “irresponsible and unsupportive”. For its part, the UNHCR “strongly opposes agreements that seek to transfer migrants and asylum seekers to third countries in the absence of adequate safeguards.” “These agreements simply evade responsibility, evade international obligations, and run counter to the letter and spirit of the International Refugee Convention,” added Gillian Treggs, Deputy Commissioner for Refugee Protection.
Tesfaye noted that the agreement with Rwanda has not yet been closed. The Danish Parliament is due to issue its ruling on April 28.
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