UNHCR GUIDELINES ON DETENTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS

 

 

1. The use of detention against asylum seekers is, in the view of UNHCR, inherentlv undesirable. This is even more so in the case of vulnerable groups such as single women children unaccompanied minors and those with special medical or psychological needs.

 

2. Of key significance to the issue of detention is Article 31 of the 1951 Convention. Article 31 exempts refugees coming directly from a country of persecution from being punished on account of their illegal entry or presence, provided they present themselves without delay to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence. The Article also provides that Contracting States shall not apply to the movements of such refugees restrictions other than those which are necessary and that any restrictions shall only be applied until their status is regularized or they obtain admission into another country.

 

3. It follows from this Article that detention should only be resorted to in cases of necessitv. The detention of asylum seekers who come "directly" in an irregular manner should, therefore, not be automatic, nor should it be unduly prolonged. The reason for this is that once their claims have been examined they may prove to be refugees entitled to benefit from Article 3 1. Conclusion No. 44 (XDDCVH) of the Executive Committee on the Detention of Refugees and Asylum Seekers sets the standard in more concrete terms of what is meant by the term "necessary". lt also provides guidelines to States on the use of detention, and recommendations as to certain procedural guarantees to which detainees should be entitled.

 

4. The term "coming directly" covers the situation of a person who enters the country in which asylum is sought directly from the country of origin, or from another country where his protection could not be assured. lt is clear from the travaux préparatoires, however, that the term also covers a person who transits an intermediate country for a short time without having applied for or received asylum there. The drafters of the Convention introduced the term "coming directly" not to exclude those who had transited another country, but rather to exclude those who "had settled temporarly" in one country, from freely entering another (travaux préparatoires A/CONF.2/SR 14 p. 10). No strict time limit can be applied to the concept "coming directly", and each case will have to be judged on its merits. The issue of "coming directly" is also related to the problem of identifying the country responsible for examining an asylum request and granting adequate and effective protection.

 

5. Given the special situation of a refugee, in particular the frequent fear of auth             other problems, lack of information and general insecurity, and the fact that these and circumstances may vary enormously from one refugee to another, there is no time limit which can be mechanically applied associated with the term "without delay" [a condition foreseen in Article 3 1 (I)]. Along with the term " good cause" [another condition foreseen in Article 31 (I)], it must take into account all of the circumstances under which the asylum seeker fled (e.g. having no time for immigration formalities).

 

S. The term "asylum seeker" throughout the survey and these guidelines also includes individuals who have been rejected from the refugee status determination procedure on purely formal grounds (for example pursuant to the application of the safe third country concept) or on substantive grounds with which UNHCR would not concur (such as in case of persecution by non-State agents). In the absence of an examination of the merits of the case in a fair and efficient asylum procedure or when the rejection after substantive examination of the claim is not in conformity with UNHCR doctrine, such rejected asylum seekers continue to be of concern to UNHCI;L These guidelines do not, however, relate to "rejected asylum seekers stricto sensu", that is, persons who, after due consideration of their claims to asylum in fair procedures (satisfactory procedural safeguards as well as an interpretation of the refugee definition in conformity with UNHCR standards), are found not to qualify for refugee status on the basis of the criteria laid down in the 1951 Convention, nor to be in need of international protection on other grounds, and who are not authorized to stay in the country concerned for other compelling humanitarian reasons.

 

 

Guideline 1: Scope of the Guidelines

 

These Guidelines apply to all asylum seekers who are in detention or in detention-like situations. They apply to all persons who are confines within a narrowly bounded or restricted location, including prisons, closed camps, detention facilities or airport transit zones, where the only opportunity to leave this limited area is to leave the territory.[1]

 

Persons who are subject to limitations on domicile and residency are not general considered to be in detention.

 

When considering whether an asylum seeker is in detention, the cumulative impact of the restrictions as well as the degree and intensity of each one should also be assessed.

 

Guideline 2: General Rule

 

The right to liberty is a fundamental right, recognized in all the major human rights instruments both at global and regional levels. The right to seek asylum is, equally, recognized as a basic human right. The act of seeking asylum can therefore not be considered an offence or a crime. Consideration should be given to the fact that asylum seekers may already have suffered some form of persecution or other hardship in their country of origin and should be protected against any form of harsh treatment.

 

As a general rule, asylum seekers should not be detained.

 

The position of asylum seekers differs fundamentally from that of the ordinary alien and this element should be taken into account in determining any measures of punishment or detention based on ilIegal presence or entry. Reference is made to the provisions of Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which grants all individuals the right to seek and enjoy asylum and Article 31 of the 1951 Convention which exempts refugees from penalties for illegal presence or entry when "coming directly" from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened. There is consensus that Article 31 should not be applied restrictively.[2]

 

Guideline 3: Exceptional Grounds of Detention

 

Detention of asylum seekers may exceptionally be resorted to, if it is clearly prescribes by a national law which is in conformity -with general norms and principles of international human rights law.[3]

 

The permissible exceptions to the general rule that detention should normally be avoided must be prescribes by law. In such cases, detention of asylum seekers may only be resorted to, if necessary, in order:

 

(i)         to verify identity;

(ii)                 to determine the elements on which the claim for refugee status or asylum is based;

(iii)                to deal with cases where refugees or asylum seekers have destroyed their travel and/or identity documents or have used fraudulent documents in order to mislead the authorities of the State, in which they intend to claim asylum; [4] or

(iv)                to protect national security or public order.

 

Where detention of asylum seekers is considered necessary it should only be imposed where it is reasonable to do so and without discrimination. lt should be proportional to the ends to be achieved (i.e. to ensure one of the above purposes) and for a minimal period.[5]

 

Where there are monitoring mechanisms which can be employed as viable alternatives to detention (such as reporting obligations or guarantor requirements), these should be applied first unless there is evidence to suggest that such an alternative will not be effective.

 

Detention of asylum seekers which is applied for any other purpose, for example, as part of a policy to deter future asylum seekers, is contrary to the principles of international protection.[6]

 

Under no circumstances should detention be used as a punitive or disciplinary measure for failure to comply with administrative requirements or breach of reception centre, refugee camp or other institutional restrictions.

 

Escape from detention should not lead to automatic discontinuance of the asylum procedure, nor to return to the country of origin, having regard to the principle of non-refoulement.[7]

 

Guideline 4.- Procedural Safeguards[8]

 

Upon detention, asylum seekers should be entitled to the following minimum procedural guarantees:

 

(i)                   the right to be informed of the reasons for detention and of the rights in connection thereto, in a language and in terms which they understand;

(ii)                 the right to challenge the lawfulness of the deprivation of liberty promptly before a competent, independent and impartial authority, where the individual may present his arguments either personally or through a representative. Such a right should extend to all aspects of the legality of the case and act simply to the lawful exercise by the executive of the discretion to detain. To this end, he should receive legal assistance. Moreover, there should be a possibility of a periodic review.

(iii)                the right to contact the local UNHCR Office, available national refugee or other agencies and a lawyer. The means to make such contact should be made available.

 

Guideline 5: Detention of Persons under the Age of 18[9]

 

In accordance with the General Rule stated at Guideline 2 and the UNHCR Guidelines on Refugee Children, minors who are asylum seekers should not be detained.

 

However if States do detain children, this should, in accordance with Article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child be as a measure of last resort, for the shortest appropriate period of time and in accordance with the exceptions stated at Guideline 3.

 

Particular reference is made to:

 

• Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which provides that in any action taken by States Parties concerning minors, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration;

 

• Article 9 which grants children the right not to be separated from their parents against their will; and

 

• Article 22 according to which States Parties are obliged to provide special measures of protection to refugee children and asylum seekers who are minors, whether accompanied or not.

 

lf children who are asylum seekers are detained in airports, immigration-holding centres or prisons, they must not be held under prison-like conditions. M efforts must be made to have them released from detention and placed in other accommodation. lf this proves impossible, special arrangements must be made for living quarters which are suitable for children and their families.

 

During detention, children have the right to education which should optimally take place outside the detention premises in order to facilitate the continuance of their education upon release. Under the UN Rules for Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty, States are required to provide special education programmes to children of foreign origin with particular cultural or ethnic needs.

 

Children who are detained benefit from the same minimum procedural guarantees (listed at Guideline 4) as adults. In addition, unaccompanied minors should be appointed a legal guardian.

 

Guideline 6:  Conditions of Detention[10]

 

Conditions of detention for asylum seekers should be humane with respect for the inherent dignity of the person.  They should be prescribed by law.

 

Reference is made to the applicable norms and principles of international law and standards on the treatment of such persons.  Of particular relevance are the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners of 1955, the UN Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under any form of Detention or Imprisonment of 1990, the UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty and the European Prison Rules.

 

The following points in particular should be emphasized:

 

(i)                   the segregation within facilities of;

men and women, and

children from adults (unless these adults are relatives);

and asylum seekers from convicted criminals;

(ii)                 the possibility regularly to contact and receive visits from friends, relatives and legal counsel;

(iii)                the possibility to receive appropriate medical treatment and to conduct some form of physical exercise; and

(iv)                the possibility to continue further education or vocational training.

 

It is also recommended that certain vulnerable categories such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, the aged, the sick and handicapped should benefit from special measures which take into account their particular needs whilst in detention.