The West African migration route leading to Spain’s Canary Islands saw a major spike in traffic in 2023, increasing by 161 percent compared to 2022, according to the European Union border agency, Frontex. As most of these crossings originate in Senegal and involve mainly young migrants, many under the age of 18, the country’s efforts […]
Africa
Malawi’s Encampment Policy: Forced Relocations and Detentions
In March, the Malawi government issued a directive ordering all refugees in the country living in urban or rural areas to relocate to the country’s already overcrowded Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Since then, authorities have forcibly relocated thousands to the camp, often detaining them temporarily in prison. Forced relocation According to the 27 March directive, all […]
Djibouti’s Crackdown Against Irregular Migrants
As Djibouti’s role as a source and transit point for migrants and asylum seekers attempting to travel to the Arabian Peninsula increases, so do the perils facing migrants both in Djibouti–where they face arrest and detention–and after their departure from the country, during dangerous journeys across the Gulf of Aden. The “Eastern Route” According to […]
BOTSWANA: Joint Submission to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
In a joint submission with Lawyers for Human Rights, the GDP has submitted information to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) addressing issues related to immigration detention in Botswana. Amongst various recommendations, the GDP and LHR urge CERD to call on Botswana to ensure that child migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are not detained; to end the practice of arbitrary detention; and to reform national legislation that is discriminatory in content, language, and application. […]
ZIMBABWE: Joint Submission to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
In a joint submission to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the GDP and LHR highlight Zimbabwe’s efforts to control and block migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers for reasons related to their nationality. In particular, the submission points to reports of discriminatory treatment including forced returns of refugees, limited freedom of movement and confinement in Tongogara Camp, female migrants’ health vulnerabilities, and the detention of children. […]
NEWSLETTER: Welcoming new GDP team members; UNHCR Afghan Non-Removal Advisory; Immigration detention in Morocco, Zimbabwe, UK and more
The GDP’s Summer 2021 Newsletter: including the latest on detention in Morocco, Zimbabwe, and the UK; welcoming new colleagues, and more… […]
Joint Submission to the Universal Periodic Review: Zimbabwe
This submission has been prepared by the Global Detention Project (GDP) and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) for the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Zimbabwe in January 2022. […]
NEWSLETTER: Stricter Control of Administrative Detention in South Africa; The Impact of COVID-19 on Migrants
Immigration detention in South Africa; the impact of COVID-19 on the human rights of migrants; the GDP’s latest submission to the UN Committee against Torture, and more… […]
Immigration Detention in South Africa: Stricter Control of Administrative Detention, Increasing Criminal Enforcement of Migration
Long an important destination for migrants and refugees from across Africa and Asia, South Africa has increasingly viewed cross border movements through the lens of national security and criminality. The country’s Border Management Act, adopted in 2020, reflects this embrace of a securitisation agenda, say observers, who worry that the country’s policies will encourage an […]
NEWSLETTER: Human Rights Concerns in Papua New Guinea, Hungary, Sudan, Greece, and Chile
Ahead of the UPR’s 39th Session, the GDP has submitted information relating to detention practices, asylum processes, and border enforcement measures in Papua New Guinea, Hungary, Sudan, and Greece. […]
