This article critically assesses a range of new non-state actors who have become involved in the deprivation of liberty of migrants and asylum seekers, describes the various forces that appear to be driving their engagement, and makes a series of recommendations concerning the role of non-state actors and detention in global efforts to manage international migration. […]
NEWSLETTER: Arbitrary Detention & International Migrants Day
On International Migrants Day 2021, let’s imagine a world where no migrants are subjected to arbitrary detention On International Migrants Day, 18 December, we celebrate the invaluable contributions that migrants and their families make to their host communities across the globe, which is reflected in the UN’s optimistic theme for this year’s day: “harnessing the potential of human […]
Immigration detention in Lithuanian (from report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture 2021 visit to Lithuanian)
Preliminary remarks (Read full CPT report) 88. In 2021, Lithuania faced an unprecedented influx of foreign nationals irregularly entering itsterritory through its land border with Belarus. Between May and mid-August, 4 110 persons wereapprehended by security forces in this context. 89. This influx of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants led to the Lithuanian governmentdeclaring an […]
Urgent Appeal: The Case of Egypt and Eritrea
Working in coordination with journalists and NGO partners in North Africa, we launched a multi-pronged awareness campaign about the plight of Eritrean refugees—including children and families—detained in Egypt’s abysmal police detention centres. Egypt has repeatedly deported refugees back to Eritrea despite the fact that many have disappeared upon arrival or suffered severe abuses or torture. […]
Arbitrary Detention and International Migrants Day
International Migrants Day, celebrated on 18 December, provides the world an opportunity to celebrate the invaluable contributions that migrants and their families make to their host communities across the globe. The positive and constructive roles that migrants play is reflected in the UN’s optimistic theme for this year’s day: “harnessing the potential of human mobility.” […]
A Comment in Time: Deconstructing the Discourse around Detention
On 17 December, the GDP’s Rachael Reilly moderated a panel on the advocacy potential of the Committee on Migrant Workers’ General Comment 5 on migrants right to liberty and freedom from arbitrary detention. Panelists at the webinar, which was hosted by Migrant Forum in Asia, included: Alvaro Botero, vice chair of the Committee on Migrant Workers; Akhator Joel […]
Maldives: Covid-19 and Detention
The Maldives relies heavily on a migrant labour force, many of whom are undocumented. Estimates vary widely, from 145,000 to over 230,000 migrant workers present in the country. According to an April 2020 UN report on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on the Maldives, the country has the largest proportion of migrant workers in South […]
Belarus: Covid-19 and Detention
The humanitarian crisis that unfolded–and continues to unfold–on Belarus’s borders with the European Union (EU) in late 2021 sparked widespread scrutiny of that country’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers (see the 12 November 2021 update on Belarus on this platform). However, the EU has long seen Belarus as an important partner in its efforts […]
Georgia: Covid-19 and Detention
Georgia operates a dedicated immigration detention centre in Tbilisi called the Temporary Accommodation Centre. The facility opened in 2014 following negotiations for a visa-free regime with the European Union. An “Action Plan” developed as part of these negotiations provided that Georgia must have “adequate infrastructure (including detention centres)… to ensure… effective expulsion of illegally staying […]
Foreign nationals held under aliens legislation (from report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture 2021 visit to Austria)
B. Foreign nationals held under aliens legislation; (Read full CPT report)37. The delegation carried out a follow-up visit to the police detention centre(Polizeianhaltezentrum – PAZ) at Vienna-Hernalser Gürtel in order to review the measures takenby the Austrian authorities to implement the recommendations made by the CPT after the previousvisit to the establishment.30 38. Although its […]
