Suella Braverman questions the relevance of UN refugee regulations in today's world

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is expected to question the relevance of the United Nations' 1951 Refugee Convention in a speech to a think tank in Washington DC. While she acknowledges the convention as an impressive accomplishment for its time, Braverman argues that changes in its interpretation have resulted in a significant increase in the number of people designated as refugees. Labour Party criticized her for shifting the blame instead of fixing the asylum system. The Refugee Convention, established after World War Two, centers on the principle of offering protection to refugees facing threats to their life or freedom in their home countries. However, Braverman argues that the world has changed significantly in 70 years and questions the sustainability of an asylum system that considers fear of discrimination due to gender or sexuality as valid reasons for protection. She also criticizes the current situation where individuals travel through multiple safe countries before choosing their preferred destination to claim asylum. The government's plan to tackle illegal small boat crossings, which includes sending individuals to Rwanda or another third country, is being challenged in the Supreme Court. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has strongly criticized the plan, while the Refugee Council charity suggests that the UK should focus on addressing issues in the asylum system instead of abandoning international agreements. Alp Mehmet from Migration Watch UK supports the home secretary's criticism and suggests withdrawal from the Refugee Convention if reforms are not implemented. Campaigner for refugee rights, Colin Yeo, believes that negotiating a replacement with global support would be highly challenging.