INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH INTO SUPERDIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM – WRITTEN EVIDENCE (URA0004)

University of Birmingham’s submission to the International Agreements Committee enquiry into the UK-Rwanda Asylum Agreement based on the findings of the SEREDA research project.

Introduction

University of Birmingham welcomes the opportunity to submit evidence to the International Agreements Committee enquiry into the UK-Rwanda Asylum Agreement. This evidence was drawn from the findings of the SEREDA research projects which examined the nature of sexual and gender based (SGBV) experienced by forced migrants and mechanisms needed to improve protection and support from SGBV-related trauma. Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) includes rape and sexual assault, as well as physical, psychological or emotional violence; forced marriage; forced sex work; and denial of resources, opportunities, services and freedom of movement on the basis of socially ascribed gender roles and norms.  Between 2018- 2021 in-depth interviews were undertaken in the UK, Turkey, Tunisia, Sweden and Australia with 107 service providers and 166 survivors from the MENA and Sub Saharan African region.  Two further studies findings, examining the experiences of forced migrant survivors living in Wales (with 13 survivors and 13 services providers) and Scotland (with 8 survivors and 8 service providers), are also included in this evidence submission.

We will respond to the following questions set out by the enquiry:

How strong and effective are the protections for persons relocated to Rwanda set out in the agreement?

What is your view of the enforcement mechanisms in the Agreement including the dispute settlement procedure, the enhanced independent Monitoring Committee, and the provision for lodging individual complaints? Do you consider that there are any essential supplementary conditions for this to be an effective process?

Are there any aspects of the Agreement which you would like to draw to the attention of the International Agreements Committee?

How strong and effective are the protections for persons relocated to Rwanda set out in the agreement?

1.Researchers on SEREDA have grave concerns about the efficacy of this agreement to keep forced migrant survivors of SGBV safe in Rwanda, based on concerns regarding current Home Office safeguarding standards and increased risk of SGBV and homophobic abuse in Rwanda itself.

2. The agreement and training for staff in Rwanda is based on Home Office standards and safeguarding procedures. Our research has shown that the current system in the UK exacerbates underlying trauma in survivors and exposes them to further risk of SGBV including Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).  To implement the same standards in this setting risks creating double vulnerability.

3. IPV can increase when families are subjected to stressful situations and when those at risk are isolated. Relocation to Rwanda risks moving survivors away from important social and support networks, disrupting recovery and removing the safety net that these networks provide.

4. While Rwanda has implemented legal protections against SGBV and homophobic abuse, rates of both are much higher than in the UK[1],[2]. Many of our respondents experienced SGBV in countries where legal protections were out of step with cultural norms.  It remains illegal in Rwanda to legally change gender or marry a same sex partner.

5. We are concerned that relocation to a country with high rates of gender-based and homophobic violence creates particular risk for those who have already experienced patterns of violence across the forced migration journey.

What is your view of the enforcement mechanisms in the Agreement including the dispute settlement procedure, the enhanced independent Monitoring Committee, and the provision for lodging individual complaints? Do you consider that there are any essential supplementary conditions for this to be an effective process?

6. As noted above, our research shows the current UK asylum system is not safe for survivors of SGBV.  We are concerned that given the failures of the Home Office to observe their own safeguarding procedures, systems for holding Rwanda to account based on current Home Office standards and training are doomed to fail.

7. One such concern includes conditions in Home Office accommodation where survivors in mixed gender or mixed sexual orientation housing report experiences of further violence and sexual harassment. Given that risks of SGBV and homophobia are increased in Rwanda, we would like to see higher levels of protections for groups that are already extremely vulnerable.

Are there any aspects of the Agreement which you would like to draw to the attention of the International Agreements Committee?

8. The Home Secretary’s policy statement on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill does not provide any detail on how concerns over LGBTQI cases and those involving underlying trauma are handled. Without this level of detail or a plan for addressing cultural norms in Rwanda, we do not believe relocated survivors of SGBV will be safe under this scheme.

SEREDA is led by Professor Jenny Phillimore in the Institute for Research into Superdiversity at University of Birmingham.

For more information see the SEREDA project website  Sexual and gender based violence in the refugee crisis: from displacement to arrival (SEREDA) - University of Birmingham

21 December 2023