Joint Submission to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Preparation for its Visit to Poland

The submission highlights concerns regarding Poland’s discriminatory detention practices of non-Ukrainian refugees, inhuman and degrading conditions in “Guarded Centres for Foreigners,” abuses of non-citizens on the border with Belarus, and the country’s increasing detention of children for migration purposes. […]

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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 […]

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Oral Submission: Testimony on Lithuania’s Treatment of Migrants at the Border with Belarus at the UN Committee against Torture’s 72nd Session

The Human Rights Monitoring Institute and the Global Detention Project presented reports about mistreatment and disappearances of migrants and asylum seekers detained near the border with Belarus at the 72nd Session of the UN Committee against Torture. […]

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Belarus: Covid-19 and Detention

The escalating crisis on the Belarus-Polish border has spurred a growing number of countries to accuse Belarus of weaponizing migrant and refugee movements, using them as pawns to destabilise the European Union. At the same time, there is growing international outrage over Poland’s response to the situation–as well as that of other countries that border […]

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Joint Submission to the Committee against Torture: Lithuania

This submission highlights Lithuania’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in response to recent increases in border crossings from Belarus, which has included stranding vulnerable people–including children–in dire conditions in border regions, using ad hoc detention sites, and expanding detention powers. Testimonies provided by detainees include numerous allegations of torture and mistreatment by security officials. […]

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Belarus Immigration Detention Data Profile (2020)

Belarus Detention Data (2020) The latest detention-related data from Belarus, including immigration and detention-related statistics, domestic laws and policies, international law, and institutional indicators. View the Belarus Detention Data Profile Related Reading: Belarus: Country Page Belarus: Detention Centres Belarus: COVID-19 Update […]

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Belarus: Covid-19 and Detention

In response to an information request submitted by the Global Detention Project and the NGO Human Constanta, Belarus Deputy Minister of the Interior Ministry Aleksandr Barsukov confirmed that during the pandemic non-nationals who violate the country’s legislation may continue to face detention and deportation. He wrote, “For foreigners violating the legislation of the Republic of […]

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Belarus – Deputy Minister of the Interior Ministry – COVID-19 Survey Response

Belarus: Aleksandr Barsukov’s (Deputy Minister of the Interior Ministry) official response to the Global Detention Project’s COVID-19 survey, jointly submitted with Human Constanta. The GDP submitted information requests to government agencies, international organisations, National Human Rights Institutions, and NGOs requesting information pertaining to the treatment of immigration detainees during the pandemic. Responses were documented on our COVID-19 Immigration Detention […]

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