Upcoming Seminar
Thursday 28th April at 2pm (UK time)
The UK-Rwanda Asylum Deal: What does it mean for refugees and the global refugee regime?
This special seminar is being hosted by the Refugee Law Initiative (RLI) in London, the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS) in Johannesburg, and the East African Centre for Forced Migration and Displacement (ACFMD) in Nairobi.
The seminar will discuss the recent Asylum Partnership Arrangement signed between the UK and Rwanda, under which certain asylum-seekers can be relocated to Rwanda from the UK for possible permanent settlement. The seminar draws on a range of perspectives from researchers and practitioners engaging with this issue.
The event facilitates topical debate about the legality and feasibility of this agreement and the likely impact it will have on affected populations:
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- What does this agreement mean for refugees and asylum seekers?
- What does the agreement signal for the global refugee regime at large?
- What are the major legal and practical obstacles likely to be encountered?
- What are the alternatives to such an approach for the UK?
- Will it have wider ramifications for refugees seeking protection within the EU?
Discussants include:
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- Allan Munyao Mukuki, East African Centre for Forced Migration
- Dr Nikolas Feith Tan, PhD Fellow at the Danish Institute for Human Rights and Aarhus University in international refugee law
- Zoe Bantleman, Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association
Location: Online
To register please use this link: https://rli.sas.ac.uk/events/event/26192
Date: Thursday 28th April at 2pm (UK time)
Press Release
April 14, 2022
Concerns over the UK - Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership
The East African Centre for Forced Migration and Displacement (EACFMD) is concerned about the plan by the UK & Rwandan governments to “offshore” asylum seekers in the UK to Rwanda under the newly unveiled “migration and economic development partnership” as it is contrary to the UK’s and Rwanda’s obligations under international refugee law.
The plan as currently announced is inconsistent with the fundamental right for all, to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution under Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees as well the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (“OAU Convention”).
In addition, the plan, in absence of guarantees of safety and protection from violations of human rights, further violates Articles 33 of the 1951 convention that prohibits States from expelling refugees in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where their life or freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
While dubbed as an “innovative solution”, the plan is likely to perpetuate the notion of “desirable refugees” – giving preferential treatment to some while offshoring others – as it lacks clarity and transparency on the criteria to be applied while determining which asylum seekers will be permitted to seek and enjoy asylum in the UK and which asylum seekers will be sent to Rwanda. This plan further violates non-discrimination clauses under Article 3 of the 1951 convention. It is likely that the plan as unveiled will do further harm by separating asylum seekers from their family members contrary to the principle of family unity as well as expose asylum seekers to psychosocial and mental health concerns.
Instead, the EACFMD recommends adoption of complementary pathways such as humanitarian visas, labour mobility schemes and family reunification in line with the Global Compact on Refugees.
For media enquiries.
Please contact: media@forcedmigration.or.ke
News Release
November 5, 2021
EACFMD-RLRH Graduate Research Placement for Refugee / Displaced Researchers
Overview
The East African Centre for Forced Migration & Displacement (EACFMD) and the University of Oxford’s Refugee Led Research Hub (RLRH) in Nairobi are partnering to offer three placement positions for refugee / displaced scholars who are interested in graduate-level research. The successful candidates will participate in EACFMD and RLRH research activities, scholar mentorship, and trainings, and work closely with accomplished scholars/researchers to support ongoing research projects in East Africa as part of this educational opportunity.
Each successful scholar will receive a £1,000 GBP stipend to support their time as on the placement.
Eligibility Criteria
- Have personal experience with forced displacement (e.g., as a current/former refugee, asylum seeker, IDP, stateless person, or another category);
- Have completed your BA degree in a field in the Social Sciences or Humanities (e.g., Sociology, Anthropology, Law, History, Literature, etc.);
- Be based in East Africa
- Be prepared to undertake a 3-month placement with a scholar/researcher working on displacement-related topics in Eastern Africa (15-25 hours per week) commencing January 2022;
- Write at a high academic standard in English
Please note due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, all Graduate Placements are taking place remotely.
We strongly encourage applications from LGBTQ+, gender non-conforming, women, & disabled candidates.
Information Session:
Interested? Attend an information session on Thursday 11th November at 5pm EAT.
Join at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9712622599 If you’re unable to attend but would like a link of the recording of the session, or if you have additional questions or comments, please email us at: opportunities@refugeeledresearch.org
Apply here: https://forms.gle/5JgdHQCuTgLvBK3L8