Human Rights Council panel discussion on human rights of migrants in detention centres

In its resolution 11/9 (18 June 2009), the Human Rights Council decided to hold a panel of discussion on the human rights of migrants in detention centres at its twelfth session. The panel discussion was held in Geneva on 17 September 2009.

The panel discussion was held against the background of increasing concerns being expressed by international human rights mechanisms related to the recourse to detention of migrants and the duration and conditions of their detention. Its main objectives were to:

(a) discuss the current trends, good practices, challenges and possible approaches to address the issue of detention of migrants and explore ways to promote and protect their human rights; and

(b) elaborate on how to reduce the recourse to and duration of detention for persons who enter or remain in a country in an irregular manner and how to provide them with appropriate access to due legal process.

Opening remarks by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and presentations by five expert panelists:

• Mr. El Hadji Malick SOW, Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on arbitrary detention
• Mr. Jorge A. BUSTAMANTE, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
• Mr. Abdelhamid EL JAMRI, Chairperson of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families,
• Ms Vanessa LESNIE, representative of national human rights institution (Australian Human Rights Commission)
• Mr. Ashley William Bonaventure GOIS, representative of non-governmental organization (Migrant Forum in Asia)

During the interactive discussion, statements from the floor were delivered by the following representatives of States, United Nations organizations, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations:

States: Cote d’Ivoire, on behalf of the African Group; Colombia, on behalf of the Group of Latin American Countries; Sweden, on behalf of the European Union; Tunisia, on behalf of the Group of Arab States; Mexico; Italy; Australia; Pakistan, on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference; France; Uruguay, on behalf of MERCOSUR member States and associated countries; China; Egypt; Brazil; the United States of America Algeria; Ecuador; South Africa; Burkina Faso; Indonesia; Senegal; the Republic of Korea; Switzerland; Angola; Philippines; Peru; Bangladesh; Gabon; Morocco.

United Nations: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

National human rights institutions: The Consultative Council for Human Rights (CCHR), Morocco

Non-governmental organizations: Migrant Rights International (MRI), jointly with the International Detention Coalition, Migrant Forum Asia, and the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and 136 organizations worldwide; World Organization against Torture (OMCT), jointly with the International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT) and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (REMDH); International Commission of Jurists (ICJ); Human Rights First (HRF); Global Alliance against Traffic in Women (GAATW); CIRID (Centre Indépendant de Recherches et d’Initiatives pour le Dialogue) and associated organizations: Espace Afrique International, Assistance for Voluntary Return and Reintegration of African Migrants (AVRRAM) and Réseau de Formation et de Recherce sur les Migrations Africaines (REFORMAF); Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

The panel discussion can be viewed on webcast (17 September 2009, 10:00-13:00). Written statements delivered and made available at the meeting are also available on the Human Rights Council extranet at: http://portal.ohchr.org/portal/page/portal/HRCExtranet/12thSession/OralStatements/170909. To access the extranet, please fill out the form to receive a username and password available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/form.htm

Documents

• Informal summary of the panel discussion
• Concept note of the panel discussion
• Opening remarks of the High Commissioner