Laura Dubinsky QC and Agata Patyna instructed by UN High Commissioner for Refugees in case concerning UK-Rwanda Migration Partnership 

Laura Dubinsky QC and Agata Patyna are acting for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN agency with responsibility for supervising the application of the international convention for the protection of refugees, in its intervention in the current litigation concerning the UK’s Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda. 

UNHCR made oral and written submissions to the courts, raising its concerns about the legality of the partnership and Rwanda’s capacity to make fair and efficient refugee status determinations, among other points. 

The first flight due to transport migrants to Rwanda was cancelled late last night after a series of interventions by domestic courts and the European Court of Human Rights. 

The legality of the UK-Rwanda Migration Partnership will be determined in judicial review proceedings which are likely to be heard by the High Court in July. UNHCR has also been granted permission to intervene in the substantive proceedings.

Laura and Agata are instructed, along with David Chirico and Ben Bundock of One Pump Court Chambers and Shane Sibbel of Blackstone Chambers, for UNHCR by Joanna Ludlam and Lucy Player-Bishop from Baker & McKenzie LLP.  All counsel and solicitors for UNHCR are acting pro bono.