GLOBAL DETENTION PROJECT NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2016
NEW DETENTION PROFILES
Sweden
For many years, Sweden was lauded for its comparatively humane treatment of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. However, reflecting a wave of get-tough policies announced by other European countries in the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis, in early 2016 Sweden announced that it was introducing new border controls and planning to deport an estimated 80,000 non-citizens who fail to qualify for refugee status.
Nauru
Nauru operates a controversial offshore processing centre for Australia that accommodates asylum seeking men, women, and children. The facility, which is part of Australia’s “Pacific Solution,” has been the focus of global condemnation because of the mistreatment of detainees, high profile cases concerning the detention of children, and Australia’s long track record of employing policies that enable it to evade adhering to international norms and obligations concerning the treatment of asylum seekers.
SUBMISSIONS TO HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child: Qatar
March 2016
UN Committee on Migrant Workers: Turkey
March 2016
UN Committee on Migrant Workers: Indonesia
March 2016
UN Committee against Torture: Turkey
March 2016
GDP ON THE RECORD
The Plight of Children and Women Seeking Asylum in Australia
The GDP moderated this side event to the UN Human Rights Council on 15 March. The event was organized by Edmund Rice International, Franciscans International, Destination Justice, and ChilOut. Panelists included Phil Glendenning (Refugee Council of Australia), Mohammad Ali Baqiri (former detainee at the offshore detention centre in Nauru and the 2015 ChilOut Youth Ambassador), and Claire Mahon.
It’s not just in Greece that refugees are stranded: Indonesia ramps up pressure on Australia to change policy
IRIN, 23 March 2016
Even humane Sweden is getting tough on refugees
IRIN, 22 March 2016
Retournement de la politique suédoise en matière d’accueil des réfugiés
IRIN, 22 March 2016
Asylum seekers’ horror shows why we should march on Yarl’s Wood
Socialist Worker, 11 March 2016
Thousands of Refugees ‘Imprisoned’ in Immigration Detention Centres Across Europe
Egyptian Streets, 1 March 2016
Refugee vs economic migrant: Are EU policies changing?
Al Jazeera, 18 February 2016
