Samoa

Detains migrants or asylum seekers?

Unknown

Has laws regulating migration-related detention?

Yes

Asylum Applications

483

2015

International Migrants

4,021

2020

Population

200,000

2023

International Migrants as % of Population

2.03%

2020

Overview

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

Samoa: Covid-19 and Detention

Having closed its borders in March to prevent a domestic outbreak, as of October 2020 Samoa remained one of a small number of countries that had yet to report any Covid-19 cases (along with other Pacific island nations, including Palau [see 29 September update on this platform]). Although the country is a signatory to the […]

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WHO Staff Member Demonstrating Handwashing to Children During the COVID-19 Assessment in Upolu, (WHO,
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DETENTION STATISTICS

Migration Detainee Entries
Not Available
2019

DETAINEE DATA

Total Number of Children Placed in Immigration Detention (Year)
0
2017

DETENTION CAPACITY

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION

ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA

PRISON DATA

Criminal Prison Population (Year)
500
2016
430
2012
Percentage of Foreign Prisoners (Year)
0.5
2007
Prison Population Rate (per 100,000 of National Population)
257
2016
227
2012

POPULATION DATA

Population (Year)
200,000
2023
203,774
2020
193,000
2015
International Migrants (Year)
4,021
2020
4,035
2019
4,900
2015
International Migrants as Percentage of Population (Year)
2.03
2020
2.6
2015
Refugees (Year)
0
2016
0
2015
Asylum Applications (Year)
0
2016
483
2015
Stateless Persons (Year)
0
2016
0
2015

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

Gross Domestic Product per Capita (in USD)
4,172
2014
Remittances to the Country (in USD)
140
2014
Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) (in Millions USD)
92.7
2014
Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP)
105 (Medium)
2015

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Does the Country Detain People for Migration, Asylum, or Citizenship Reasons?
Unknown
2024
Does the Country Have Specific Laws that Provide for Migration-Related Detention?
Yes
2024
Legal Tradition(s)
Civil law
2017
Customary law
2017

GROUNDS FOR DETENTION

LENGTH OF DETENTION

DETENTION INSTITUTIONS

PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS

COSTS & OUTSOURCING

COVID-19 DATA

TRANSPARENCY

MONITORING

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING BODIES

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS (OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE)

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOs)

GOVERNMENTAL MONITORING BODIES

INTERNATIONAL DETENTION MONITORING

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES & TREATY BODIES

International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
2019
2019
OP CRC Communications Procedure
2016
2018
CRSR, Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
1988
2017
ICPED, International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
2012
2017
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2016
2017
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
1994
2017
CEDAW, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
1992
2017
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
2008
2017
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
1987
2017
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 9/19
Treaty Reservations
Reservation Year
Observation Date
CRC Article 28 1994
1994
2017
Ratio of Complaints Procedures Accepted
Observation Date
0/5
2017

> UN Special Procedures

> UN Universal Periodic Review

Relevant Recommendations or Observations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
No 2011
2017
No 2016
2017

> Global Compact for Migration (GCM)

GCM Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

> Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)

GCR Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

HEALTH CARE PROVISION

HEALTH IMPACTS

COVID-19

Country Updates
Having closed its borders in March to prevent a domestic outbreak, as of October 2020 Samoa remained one of a small number of countries that had yet to report any Covid-19 cases (along with other Pacific island nations, including Palau [see 29 September update on this platform]). Although the country is a signatory to the Refugee Convention, Samoa has not historically been a destination for asylum seekers or refugees. There is little available information about the treatment of migrants or asylum seekers in immigration enforcement procedures in Samoa.
Did the country release immigration detainees as a result of the pandemic?
Unknown
2021
Did the country use legal "alternatives to detention" as part of pandemic detention releases?
Unknown
2021
Did the country Temporarily Cease or Restrict Issuing Detention Orders?
Unknown
2021
Did the Country Adopt These Pandemic-Related Measures for People in Immigration Detention?
Unknown (Unknown) Unknown Unknown Unknown
2021
Did the Country Lock-Down Previously "Open" Reception Facilities, Shelters, Refugee Camps, or Other Forms of Accommodation for Migrant Workers or Other Non-Citizens?
Unknown
2021
Were cases of COVID-19 reported in immigration detention facilities or any other places used for immigration detention purposes?
Unknown
2021
Did the Country Cease or Restrict Deportations/Removals During any Period After the Onset of the Pandemic?
Unknown
2021
Did the Country Release People from Criminal Prisons During the Pandemic?
Unknown
2021
Did Officials Blame Migrants, Asylum Seekers, or Refugees for the Spread of COVID-19?
Unknown
2021
Did the Country Restrict Access to Asylum Procedures?
Unknown
2021
Did the Country Commence a National Vaccination Campaign?
Yes
2020
Were Populations of Concern Included/Excluded From the National Vaccination Campaign?
Unknown (Unknown) Unknown Unknown Unknown
2021