Braverman challenges UN convention for protecting refugees
Home Secretary Suella Braverman questioned whether the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention was “fit for our modern age”.
Speaking to the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC, she argued that the Convention had transformed into something that was once designed to protect and help people fleeing serious threat to life to those fearing prejudice.
She said “fearing discrimination” for being gay or a woman should not be enough to qualify for refugee protection, and is different from someone’s life being at risk.
“Where individuals are being persecuted, it is right that we offer sanctuary,” she said.
“But we will not be able to sustain an asylum system if, in effect, simply being gay, or a woman, and fearful of discrimination in your country of origin, is sufficient to qualify for protection.”
The United Nations’ refugee agency condemned her comments, saying the agreement “remains as relevant today as when it was adopted in providing an indispensable framework for addressing those challenges, based on international co-operation”.
Labour responded saying she was trying to “distract from her failures” and accused her of using gay people and women as “scapegoats” – when just 1.5% of the 74,751 asylum claims in the UK last year cited sexual orientation as the basis for their claim.
Right-wing publications rallied behind Braverman in support, while Left-wing publications were distressed by her remarks. The speech itself has sparked a battle between the liberal and illiberal.
Liberal outrage at Suella Braverman’s Washington speech is skin deep
Tory MPs criticise Suella Braverman’s ‘alarmist’ speech on migration
The Left’s outrage over Suella Braverman’s speech is pure hypocrisy
Asylum seekers pretend to be gay to ‘game the system’ and stay in Britain, claims Suella Braverman – as Home Secretary dismisses backlash against her migration speech
Suella Braverman slaps down claim she ‘lacks compassion’ after lefty meltdown over speech
‘Suella Braverman’s multiculturalism speech was inflammatory and divisive’
Braverman’s refugee speech sparks UN human rights criticism
Suella Braverman isn’t liked by liberals because she speaks sense. Her refugees speech was bang on the money
