Mandat

La Division des migrations et des réfugiés (DMR) a été créée le 1er février 2025 au sein de la Direction Générale Droits humains et Etat de droit (DG1) pour assurer le suivi de l'action de l'ancien Représentant spécial du Secrétaire général sur les migrations et les réfugiés. Son mandat consiste notamment à proposer une assistance et un soutien aux Etats membres, en particulier par le biais du Réseau de correspondants sur les migrations, à rechercher, collecter et analyser des informations sur la situation des droits de l'homme des migrants et des réfugiés, ainsi qu'à compléter et coordonner les activités d'autres organes compétents du Conseil de l'Europe et notre action avec d'autres partenaires internationaux, notamment le HCR, l'OIM, l'UE et ses agences spécialisées, et d'autres parties prenantes nationales, régionales et internationales, y compris des organisations de la société civile. La DMR représente le Conseil de l'Europe au sein du Comité de sélection du Distinction Nansen pour les réfugiés du HCR, ainsi que dans les Forums consultatifs de Frontex et de l'EUAA.

Retour CPT calls on Greece to reform its immigration detention system and stop pushbacks

CPT calls on Greece to reform its immigration detention system and stop pushbacks

On 19 November 2020, the Council of Europe's anti-torture committee (CPT), published a report on an ad hoc visit to Greece where it once again urged the Greek authorities to change their approach towards immigration detention and to ensure that migrants deprived of their liberty are treated both with dignity and humanity. The report is based on a visit which took place from 13 to 17 March 2020 and is published with the response of the Greek authorities.

In the report, the CPT acknowledges the significant challenges faced by the Greek authorities in dealing with large numbers of migrants entering the country and that it requires a coordinated European approach. However, this cannot absolve the Hellenic Republic from their human rights obligations and the duty of care owed to all migrants that the Greek authorities detain.

The CPT found that the conditions of detention in which migrants were held in certain facilities in the Evros region and on the island of Samos could amount to inhuman and degrading treatment. The report again underlined the structural deficiencies in Greece’s immigration detention policy. Migrants continue to be held in detention centres composed of large barred cells crammed with beds, with poor lighting and ventilation, dilapidated and broken toilets and washrooms, insufficient personal hygiene products and cleaning materials, inadequate food and no access to outdoor daily exercise. Extreme overcrowding in several of the facilities further aggravated the situation. In addition, migrants were not provided with clear information about their situation.

The CPT once again found that families with children, unaccompanied and separated children and other vulnerable persons (with a physical or mental health illness, or pregnant women) were being detained in such appalling conditions with no appropriate support. The CPT called upon the Greek authorities to end the detention of unaccompanied children and of children with their parents in police establishments. Instead, they should be transferred to suitable reception facilities catering to their specific needs.

In their response, the Hellenic Police provided information on the steps being taken to improve the conditions of detention for detained migrants. They also stated that the alleged practice of pushbacks to the border is unsubstantiated and completely wrong. As regards unaccompanied minors, reference is made to a new strategy to end their detention and to their transfer from reception centres on the islands to safe accommodation facilities on the mainland.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR THE PREVENTION OF TORTURE (CPT)
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Imprimer CPT calls on Greece to reform its immigration detention system and stop pushbacks