United States: Covid-19 and Detention

In late June, 53 migrants died after being abandoned in a trailer in south-west San Antonio, Texas, marking the highest ever death toll from a human trafficking event near the US-Mexico border. More than half of the victims were originally from Mexico while 14 were from Honduras, seven from Guatemala, and two from El Salvador. […]

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BOTSWANA: Submission to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Botswana has both administrative migration-related detention measures, including for the detention of refugees, as well as criminal penalties that can include lengthy imprisonment for migration offenses. These measures violate norms promoted by the Working Group, which says that migration infractions must not be subject to criminal penalties and there should be a prohibition on the detention of refugees, asylum seekers, and children. […]

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The GDP and Migrant-Rights Submit Freedom of Information Requests to Government Agencies in UAE

On 21 June 2022, the GDP and Migrant-Rights.org submitted freedom of information requests regarding immigration detention practices to UAE’s Ministry of Interior; Judicial Department (Human Rights Office); Federal Authority for Government Human Resources; Ministry of Human Resources Emiratisation; and Statistics Center. In particular, we requested the following information: The GDP and Migrant-Rights.org did not receive a response […]

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The GDP and Migrant-Rights Submit Freedom of Information Requests to Government Agencies in Saudi Arabia

On 21 June 2022, the GDP and Migrant-Rights.org submitted freedom of information requests regarding immigration detention practices to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior (General Department of Expatriate Affairs), General Authority for Statistics, and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. In particular, we requested the following information: The GDP and Migrant-Rights.org did not receive a response from […]

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The GDP and Migrant-Rights Submit Freedom of Information Requests to Government Agencies in Qatar

On 21 June 2022, the GDP and Migrant-Rights.org submitted freedom of information requests regarding immigration detention practices to Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs; Planing and Statistics Authority; and Ministry of Interior (including its Legal Affairs Department; General Directorate of Civil Defence – Administrative Affairs Department; and General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security […]

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The GDP and Migrant-Rights Submit Freedom of Information Requests to Government Agencies in Kuwait

On 21 June 2022, the GDP and Migrant-Rights.org submitted freedom of information requests regarding immigration detention practices to Kuwait’s Central Statistical Bureau, Ministry of Social Affairs and Work, the Public Authority for Manpower, and Talha Deportation Prison (Ministry of Interior). In particular, we requested the following information: The GDP and Migrant-Rights.org did not receive a response from […]

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The GDP and Migrant-Rights Submit Freedom of Information Requests to Government Agencies in Bahrain

On 21 June 2022, the GDP and Migrant-Rights.org submitted freedom of information requests regarding immigration detention practices to Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Development, and National Institution for Human Rights. In particular, we requested the following information: The GDP and Migrant-Rights.org did not receive a response from any of the agencies. […]

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France: Covid-19 and Detention

In early June, France’s independent detention monitoring agency, the Contrôleur Général des lieux de Privation de Liberté (CGPL), released a report on its work, which heavily criticised operations at the country’s immigration detention centres (centres de rétention administrative or CRA), including highlighting critical problems with respect to COVID-19 measures. The CGPL report found that the […]

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Submission to the Committee against Torture

Detained non-citizens in the UAE frequently face arbitrary arrests, poor conditions of detention, an inability to access information about their cases, and deportation without recourse to legal remedies. Their treatment may amount to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, prohibited by Article 16 of the UN Convention against Torture. […]

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NEWSLETTER: Global Tools, Local Impact

The GDP’s May 2022 newsletter shines a spotlight on our Annual Report – “Global Tools, Local Impact” – with highlights including the launch of our new webinar series on international human rights mechanisms; expanding partnerships; and our collaborative efforts with partners to raise awareness of human rights violations in key global hotspots. […]

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