GENEVA – The United Nations Human Rights Office has formally urged Ghana to cease the deportations of migrants who were recently sent to the West African nation from the United States. The call comes amidst growing concerns over the human rights implications for individuals transferred under bilateral agreements or arrangements.
The U.N. body emphasized the importance of adhering to international human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits states from returning individuals to a country where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, and other irreparable harm.
Concerns Over Due Process and Protection
According to a statement from the U.N. Human Rights Office, the migrants in question may not have received adequate due process safeguards before their transfer from the U.S., raising questions about the thoroughness of asylum claim assessments and individual vulnerability screenings.
“We have communicated our serious concerns to the Ghanaian authorities regarding the planned deportations,” a spokesperson for the U.N. Human Rights Office stated. “Every individual, regardless of their migratory status, is entitled to fundamental human rights, including the right to seek asylum and to have their claims properly assessed. The principle of non-refoulement is a cornerstone of international law, and states must ensure no one is returned to a situation where their life or freedom would be at risk.”
The Office highlighted that Ghana, as a signatory to international conventions such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, bears obligations to protect asylum seekers and refugees. The U.N.’s intervention seeks to ensure that these obligations are met for the migrants currently facing deportation from Ghana.
Background of Migrant Transfers from the U.S.
The development points to broader challenges in international migration management, particularly arrangements made by countries like the U.S. to transfer migrants to third countries. These policies have often drawn criticism from human rights organizations for potentially outsourcing asylum responsibilities and creating complex legal and humanitarian dilemmas.
Details regarding the specific circumstances of the migrants’ transfer from the U.S. to Ghana remain under scrutiny. Human rights advocates suggest that many of these individuals may have been seeking protection in the U.S. before being transferred, possibly under expedited processes that limited their ability to fully present their cases.
Ghanaian authorities have yet to issue an official response to the U.N. Human Rights Office’s request. The international community will be closely watching Ghana’s actions, as they could set a precedent for how countries handle migrants transferred under similar arrangements in the future.
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