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Lawyers representing argued on WednesdayÌýthat sending asylum seekers to Rwanda under the government's controversial deportation policy is "not a punishment" during a High Court hearing this week.Ìý

On day three of a judicial review into the policy's lawfulness, Lord David Pannick QC said the UK government had clear legal powers to send to a "safe" third country under a law passed by Labour in 2004.

The Home Office legal team told the court that Rwanda provided water-tight assurancesÌýto guarantee migrants are treated fairly and have access to legal representation, hitting back at concerns over potential abuse and ill-treatment if individuals are sent to .ÌýÌý

"If we choose to return the individual to a third country that is safe, then we, the UK, have complied with our obligation under the Refugee Convention,"Ìýsaid Lord Pannick.

"Relocation to a safe third country is not a criminal penalty and is not imposed as a punishment,"Ìýsaid written submissions from the legal team.Ìý

The High Court hearing this week involves a legal challenge from refugee charities, the PSC union representing civil servants and asylum seekers, over the lawfulness of the UK's Rwanda deportation scheme.Ìý

A central part of the case against the government stipulates that Rwanda is not a safe country given its poor record and evidence of asylum seekers'Ìýforced deportation.Ìý

The UNHCR provided damning written submissions to the court arguing that the scheme "breaches the UK’s obligation under the Refugee Convention"Ìýand called it a "burden-shiftingÌý measure".

The international body pointed to a number of examples where Rwanda had broken the principle of refoulement, sending asylum seekers to a country where they are likely to face danger and persecution - such as Uganda or .Ìý

Government lawyers have argued all migrants will be given the chance to claim asylum in RwandaÌýwith adequate legal representation, the right to appeal, and interpreters. The claimaint's legal team said Rwanda's asylum system doesn't have the capacity to ensure these procedures take place.Ìý

Moreover, included in Rwanda's guarantees over the fair treatment of migrants is a caveat that stipulates the country can't be taken to court if the assurances areÌýbreached.ÌýÌý

and her new Home Secretary Suella Braverman support the deportation policy.

The government has championed the measures as a way to curb migrant across the English Channel. Refugee charities, including Care4Calais and Detention Action, have slammed the policy as cruel and instead called for safe humanitarian corridors for people to claim asylum in the UK.Ìý

The High Court hearing continues until Friday. A second stage is expected to take place in October.Ìý