UN recognizes the right to asylum on climate grounds
The UN Human Rights Committee has recognized the right to seek asylum due to the risks posed by climate change. The resolution was prompted by a complaint from a citizen of the island of Kiribati.
On Tuesday, January 21, the UN Human Rights Committee published the results of its investigation into a complaint filed by a citizen of Kiribati, a Caribbean island.
The man had filed a complaint with the Human Rights Committee against the New Zealand government for rejecting his family's asylum application. The family's reason for fleeing the tiny island was due to rising ocean levels, loss of farmland, and the possibility of the entire island being destroyed.
Kiribati is a former British colony with a population of 120,000 and consists of several very small islands with a total area of 800 square kilometers.
After extensive investigation, the UN Human Rights Committee concluded that there were sufficient facilities to save the lives of the islanders in the event of a serious danger from the ocean, and therefore dismissed the plaintiff's complaint, but at the same time concluded that the risks posed by climate change should be recognized as sufficient grounds for refugee status.
Making it easier to process the case of “climate refugees”
The German news agency quoted Yuval Shani, an expert on the Human Rights Committee, as saying that the decision sets new criteria for the grounds for asylum.
This way, in cases where asylum applications are due to the consequences of climate change, asylum case examiners will have a greater say in recognizing individuals' asylum claims.
The UN Human Rights Committee oversees the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has been signed by 172 countries.
116 member states have recognized the right of individuals to complain to state institutions. These states are obliged to comply with the requirements of the Human Rights Committee.
Source: DW
