Refugees, Asylum Seekers and the Rule of Law

This volume compares how asylum law issues have tested and impacted upon the Rule of Law in five common law jurisdictions: the UK, Australia, Canada, the USA and New Zealand. It explains the international context for these issues and evaluates the responses of the jurisdictions from a human rights perspective.

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Contributors to this volume examine how the legislative, executive and administrative arms of government have responded to issues concerning the rights and status of refugees and asylum seekers in five common law jurisdictions: the UK, Australia, Canada, the USA and New Zealand. Who and what determines the legislative agenda in this context? Is the legislative agenda driven by the legislators or by the executive? Where does the 'community' fit into this picture? Together the essays explain the international context for the responses of the jurisdictions, evaluate the responses from a human rights perspective and assess the integrity and coherency of legal responses as shown by their impact on the rule of law.