UK Government's Migration Bill & International Law

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

This one-day short course places the UK Government’s Migration Bill, within the broader context of the international refugee and human rights framework.

The purpose of the Migration Bill is to prevent and deport persons who enter or arrive in the UK in breach of immigration control. We will examine to what extent the provisions within the Migration Bill impinge upon the rights of asylum seekers and refugees as outlined in international legal instruments.

The course commences with an overview of the UK’s decision to overhaul its immigration system, following its withdrawal from the European Union. This is followed by a careful examination of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, focusing specifically on how they can impact the realities and prospects of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.

Debates surrounding the necessity to address the influx of asylum seekers entering the UK unlawfully revolves around the validity of using domestic & international legal instruments to a) prevent asylum seekers from reaching our shores and b) returning persons who reached the UK to their home country or a third state. Moreover, there have been appeals for the UK to cooperate with the European Union in the creation of secure and lawful routes, as well as the implementation of a cooperative system for returns. Additionally, addressing the root causes of extensive migration has been recognized as an essential component of this discourse. We will examine these themes critically within the broader context of international law.

DATES: 

Start: TBA

Finish: TBA

Time & Day: TBA

Duration: 1 day

Location: TBA

Groups of five or more students applying together, can select a course start date and time that is convenient to them.