An Unjust “Vision” for Europe’s Refugees

Human Rights Watch Commentary on
the U.K.’s “New Vision” Proposal for the
Establishment of Refugee Processing Centers Abroad

June 17, 2003

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

1. THE REGIONAL PROCESSING CENTERS PROPOSED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEE PRINCIPLES
   Undermining of Responsibility Sharing Principles
   Violations of the Right to Seek Asylum and of Nonrefoulement
   Processing in Third Countries Constitutes a Penalty Under the Refugee Convention
   Lack of Procedural Safeguards
   Transferring Governments are Legally Responsibility for Abuses that Occur as a Result of the Plan
   
   
2. CONDITIONS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS, REFUGEES, AND OTHER MIGRANTS IN PROPOSED LOCATIONS FOR PROCESSING CENTERS
   Albania
   Croatia
   Iran
   Morocco
   Romania
   Russia
   Northern Somalia
   Turkey
   Ukraine
   
   
3. ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES WILL BE SUBJECTED TO INEFFECTIVE PROTECTION IN PROCESSING CENTERS
   The “New Vision” Proposal Will Undermine International Effective Protection Norms
   The “New Vision” Proposal Will Undermine Existing Effective Protection Policies in the U.K. and other States
   
   
   CONCLUSION