No

No. 2

April 2003

ECRE DOCUMENTATION SERVICE

Policy developments........................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

UNHCR............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

High Commissioner proposes new approaches on asylum-migration issues in EU...................................................................... 5

UNHCR urges states to grant temporary protection to Iraqis................................................................................................................ 5

UNHCR Publications:............................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Applications lodged in Europe, N America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. 2002........................................ 5

COUNCIL OF EUROPE............................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Serbia and Montenegro becomes Council of Europe's 45th member state....................................................................................... 6

Council of Europe Conference on "Future Prospects of Migration in the Mediterranean"....................................................... 6

Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner voices concerns regarding Roma/Gypsy communities............................ 6

Report on the common policy on migration and asylum.......................................................................................................................... 6

Report on Chechnya and Ingushetia................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Council of Europe publications.......................................................................................................................................................................... 7

OSCE................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7

Appointment of the new director of ODIHR.................................................................................................................................................. 7

Roma and Sinti meeting........................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Report on Minorities in Kosovo......................................................................................................................................................................... 7

ECRE’s Policy and Advocacy Publications............................................................................................................................................. 7

ECRE/USCR Study on Responding to the Asylum Access Challenge: An Agenda for Comprehensive Engagement in Protracted Refugee Situations............................................................................................................................................. 7

Statement on the Iraq Crisis: The Need for Access to Protection........................................................................................................ 7

Guidelines for the treatment of Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in Europe............................................................................ 7

Updated position on the integration of refugees in Europe..................................................................................................................... 8

Good Practice Guides............................................................................................................................................................................................ 8

Legal and Social conditions for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Western Europe....................................................................... 8

Legal Developments.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE...................................................................................................................... 9

Canada......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

CPT Reports: Germany....................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Luxembourg.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Macedonia............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

Moldova................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

Romania................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Russia..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Spain....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Sweden................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Turkey: visit to Abdullah Ocalan...................................................................................................................................................................... 11

United Kingdom: Suspected international terrorists detained in the UK.................................................................................................. 12

European Court of Human Rights............................................................................................................................................................... 12

Expulsion of a 16-year old Bosnian is a violation of Article 8 [Jakupovic v. Austria (Appl.No. 36757/97)]................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 12

Iranian Case declared admissible under Article 2, 3 ECHR and Article 1 Protocol No. 6 [Razaghi v. Sweden (Appl. No. 64599/01)]......................................................................................................................................................................... 13

National Developments............................................................................................................................................................................. 15

Belarus......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Belgium......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15

New Employment Laws allows refugees to obtain employment........................................................................................................... 15

Policemen to be tried for the death of rejected Nigerian asylum seeker......................................................................................... 16

Senate approves Temporary Protection for refugees.............................................................................................................................. 16

Human Traffickers jailed for killing 8 Asylum Seekers.......................................................................................................................... 16

bosnia............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16

OSCE Mission calls for an end to bussing of children to mono-ethnic schools............................................................................ 16

Returns to Bosnia near 1 million..................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Bosnia adopts draft agreement on borders with Croatia...................................................................................................................... 17

IWPR reports on the social exclusion of Roma.......................................................................................................................................... 17

Bulgaria...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Bulgarian Helsinki Committee warns of deteriorating human rights situation............................................................................ 17

Czech Republic......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Roma immigration increases to Czech Republic....................................................................................................................................... 17

Fall in numbers of asylum seekers in 2002.................................................................................................................................................. 18

Denmark....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Concerns over ‘voluntary’ returns to Kosovo............................................................................................................................................. 18

Following the conclusion of an agreement Denmark begins returning refugees to Serbia-Montenegro........................... 18

Finland......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Government urged to encourage more immigration of skilled labour to sustain growth.......................................................... 18

One hundred Bulgarian asylum-seekers flown home.............................................................................................................................. 19

Finland prepares to receive hundreds of refugees from Iraq................................................................................................................ 19

france............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19

Human rights activists protest decision to expel African immigrants............................................................................................... 19

Racist violence more than quadruples in France in 2002...................................................................................................................... 20

Fingerprinting required for tourist visas..................................................................................................................................................... 20

Longer period of detention proposed............................................................................................................................................................. 20

Georgia......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20

Azerbaijanis complain of discrimination and harassment.................................................................................................................... 20

germany........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Joint border patrols on the German-Czech border.................................................................................................................................. 21

Second run for Germany’s Immigration Bill............................................................................................................................................... 21

Greece............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Greek Court sentences lorry driver to 11 years-jail sentence for carrying 19 Iraqi asylum seekers.................................. 21

Detention of minor seeking asylum for illegal entry................................................................................................................................ 22

Ireland.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22

Steady rise in Ghanaians seeking asylum..................................................................................................................................................... 22

Fingerprint checks yield five matches in the first six weeks................................................................................................................. 22

Refusal to accept further applications for residency from non-EU immigrant parents of Irish-born children...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22

Deportations rise to nearly two a day........................................................................................................................................................... 23

Call for an Independent Body to monitor and investigate race-related incidents....................................................................... 23

Ireland opens door to EU accession state workers................................................................................................................................... 23

The Minister for Justice rejects criticism by UN of the Immigration Bill........................................................................................ 24

macedonia................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24

Roma refugees from Kosovo refuse to leave............................................................................................................................................... 24

Displaced Macedonians fear recent arson attacks signal campaign to deter returns to ethnic Albanian areas........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24

netherlands............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25

Human Rights Watch criticises Dutch asylum policy.............................................................................................................................. 25

Closure of asylum centre blocked by Court................................................................................................................................................. 25

norway.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25

Speeding up decisions on asylum applicants through ‘sorting’.......................................................................................................... 25

Tougher conditions for asylum seekers......................................................................................................................................................... 25

Iraqi refugees warned against returning home......................................................................................................................................... 26

POLAND....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26

New Refugee Organization Formed............................................................................................................................................................... 26

portugal...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26

New Immigration Law comes into force....................................................................................................................................................... 26

romania......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

Number of political asylum seekers drops in the last two years.......................................................................................................... 27

russia.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 27

The President consolidates the security agencies..................................................................................................................................... 27

Migration Service works to control the influx of foreigners................................................................................................................. 27

Migration cards introduced............................................................................................................................................................................... 27

Tougher rules for visas........................................................................................................................................................................................ 28

Total number of refugees at above half a million...................................................................................................................................... 28

Southern Russia’s migrants face deportation............................................................................................................................................. 28

Kabardino-Balkaria clamps down on refugees......................................................................................................................................... 28

PACE.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Controversial referendum in Chechnya........................................................................................................................................................ 29

Ingushetia struggles with refugee burden.................................................................................................................................................... 30

Refugees afraid to return to Chechnya from Ingushetia......................................................................................................................... 30

More problems identified over Kaliningrad................................................................................................................................................ 30

serbia.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30

Thousands of displaced Serbs are struggling to survive........................................................................................................................ 30

slovakia....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31

Modernising border controls............................................................................................................................................................................ 31

Almost 83% of asylum seekers ‘disappeared’ last year......................................................................................................................... 31

sweden........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31

9,000 Bosnian refugees to be sent home....................................................................................................................................................... 31

Amnesty International criticises Swedish decision to freeze Iraqi asylum cases.......................................................................... 31

switzerland............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31

Another proposal to limit immigration.......................................................................................................................................................... 31

Switzerland-Senegal repatriation agreement thrown out by the Senegal Parliament................................................................ 32

united kingdom........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32

Series of new Immigration, Citizenship and Asylum measures come into force in March and April 2003............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32

Tighter Citizenship laws enter into force..................................................................................................................................................... 32

Court of Appeal rejects the Home Office’s appeal on Section 55 of the Nationality and Immigration Asylum Act 2002.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32

Further limits to rural accommodation centres......................................................................................................................................... 33

“Highly Skilled Migrant Programme” attracts 3000 applications.................................................................................................... 33

Compulsory HIV tests for all immigrants..................................................................................................................................................... 34

The numbers of child asylum seekers is on the rise................................................................................................................................. 34

UK government curtails protection for Iraqis............................................................................................................................................ 34

Plans to send asylum seekers to Albania...................................................................................................................................................... 34

Language tests to help in determining nationality of asylum seekers............................................................................................... 35

Asylum children policy ‘immoral’.................................................................................................................................................................. 35

Travellers face departure checks.................................................................................................................................................................... 35

Asylum seekers routinely mistreated, says Inspector of Prisons chief.............................................................................................. 36

Polish Roma cannot count on asylum in Britain....................................................................................................................................... 36

Number of Czech asylum seekers in Britain sharply declines............................................................................................................. 36

Fast-track scheme to deport asylum seekers............................................................................................................................................... 36

Refugees prevented from learning English by bureaucracy and lack of classes........................................................................... 37

New measures to combat fraudulent marriages......................................................................................................................................... 37

YUGOSLAVIA........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37

Lawsuit filed with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination for refusal to allow Roma into discotheque in Serbia and Montenegro.................................................................................................................................. 37

EU Developments................................................................................................................................................................................................. 39

summary of progress in EU asylum agenda........................................................................................................................................... 39

New ECRE statements......................................................................................................................................................................................... 39

ECRE Statement on European Council Meeting, 20-21 March.......................................................................................................... 39

ECRE comments on the Amended proposal for a Council Directive on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status.................................................................................. 39

PRESIDENCIES OF THE EU............................................................................................................................................................................... 40

The Greek Presidency.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 40

Qualifications Directive...................................................................................................................................................................................... 40

Asylum Procedures Directive............................................................................................................................................................................ 40

Directive on long term residence status........................................................................................................................................................... 40

EU-Spring European Council 21,22 March............................................................................................................................................... 40

Informal JHA Council 28-29 March - Veria............................................................................................................................................... 40

U.K. proposal considered................................................................................................................................................................................... 40

Lubbers outlines ‘Convention Plus’ Initiative................................................................................................................................................ 40

Other Developments............................................................................................................................................................................................. 41

Disagreement continues over costs for border mangement......................................................................................................................... 41

Remaining JHA Councils of the Greek Presidency:..................................................................................................................................... 41

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION...................................................................................................................................................... 41

Asylum Procedures............................................................................................................................................................................................... 41

Long Term Residence Directive....................................................................................................................................................................... 41

EUROPEAN COMMISION................................................................................................................................................................................... 41

Commission adopts communication on common asylum policy and Agenda for protection 26/03/03................................ 41

Commission report dismisses links between immigration and increases in crime and unemployment 14/03/03.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 42

Commission sets up Experts group on trafficking in human beings 26/03/03.............................................................................. 42

‘Wider- Europe- New Neighbourhood Communication’ 11/03/03.................................................................................................... 42

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT................................................................................................................................................................................ 42

European Parliament Resolution on implementing an area of Freedom, Security and Justice............................................. 42

Family Reunification............................................................................................................................................................................................ 43

EUROPEAN CONVENTION FOR THE FUTURE OF EUROPE........................................................................................................ 43

General Developments........................................................................................................................................................................................ 43

Justice and Home Affairs provisions............................................................................................................................................................. 43

Ombudsman makes proposals to Convention on human rights and openness.............................................................................. 43

Debate on Freedom, Security and Justice................................................................................................................................................... 43

EU Enlargement..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44

Referenda in the Accession Countries........................................................................................................................................................... 44

Cyprus.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44

Estonia.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44

Hungary.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 44

Latvia...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44

Lithuania................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 44

Malta....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44

Poland..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44

Slovakia.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 44

Slovenia.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 44

Romanian politicians sign declaration for EU accession..................................................................................................................... 44

Commission formally accepts accession....................................................................................................................................................... 45

MEPs give green light for EU enlargement................................................................................................................................................ 45

EU Parliament votes for enlargement........................................................................................................................................................... 45

Croatia applies for EU membership.............................................................................................................................................................. 45

Macedonia plans to apply for EU membership.......................................................................................................................................... 45

Cyprus talks fail...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46

Slovakia warned of lagging reforms.............................................................................................................................................................. 46

Disputed result in the referendum in Malta................................................................................................................................................ 46

Ukraine is not excluded from joining the EU.............................................................................................................................................. 46

Publications, websites and events................................................................................................................................................ 47

Publications.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 47

Events............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 49

Websites....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 50

ECRE Projects.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 51

Reception and Integration............................................................................................................................................................................... 51

Strengthening Refugee Participation in European Asylum Policies and Programmes............................................................. 51

Three new Good Practice Guides and an Updated Integration Position........................................................................................ 52

ECRE Eastern Europe Project........................................................................................................................................................................ 52

ECRE news............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 52

No. 2

April 2003

ECRE DOCUMENTATION SERVICE

Policy developments

UNHCR

High Commissioner proposes new approaches on asylum-migration issues in EU

UN High Commissioner on Refugees Ruud Lubbers offered new ways to address the issues of asylum and migration in the European Union, urging Member States to develop a unified internal approach along with new global strategies.

Addressing an informal meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Veria, Greece, on the 28^th of March, Lubbers said Member States must work with each other as well as with developing countries that host the bulk of the world's refugees.

“I would say that Europe has no choice but to work on both fronts if it is to effectively address both the phenomenon of irregular movements of asylum seekers to Europe and the phenomenon of economic migrants clogging up its asylum systems," he said.

The High Commissioner proposed a three-pronged approach:

The first prong would involve new joint initiatives within Europe itself. These could include the pooling of EU processing and reception resources to speed up decision-making on the asylum claims of nationals of countries that do not normally produce refugees. Lubbers said UNHCR was ready to consider such arrangements, mostly in cases where there is a clear indication that flows are overwhelmingly composed of persons without valid claims for international protection.

The second would focus on new approaches in regions of origin to boost prospects for refugee solutions there, and to address so-called secondary movements of refugees and asylum seekers toward Europe.

The third prong, Lubbers said, would focus on the effective functioning of Europe's individual national asylum systems. If the EU and regional prongs were successful, he said, national asylum systems would be able to concentrate more on the functions for which they were created – the provision of international protection to those in need.

UNHCR urges states to grant temporary protection to Iraqis

On the 26^th of March UNHCR distributed new Guidelines to all governments signatories to the Refugee Convention and Non-Governmental Organisations advising that asylum claims from individual Iraqi citizens should not be processed for an initial period of three months, during which Iraqis should instead be granted temporary protection.

In a separate March 7 memorandum, UNHCR had already urged asylum countries to halt the forced returns of Iraqis. Now the agency’ s legal experts are advising a suspension of individual asylum procedures, both of pending cases and new arrivals, and the granting of temporary protection instead.

http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/+iwwBmeOm0HKwwwwnwwwwwwwhFqnN0bItFqnDni5AFqnN0bIcFqnoGw3MzmevxwwwwwwwDzmxwwwwwwwdFqidGmnGaxOa-uPPyER0ay0Ig/opendoc.htm

UNHCR Publications:

Applications lodged in Europe, N America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. 2002

Following the provisional report, the publication of which was reported in the last Documentation Service, the full report “Asylum Applications Lodged in Industrialized Countries: Levels and Trends, 2000-2002” is now available on the UNHCR website (www.unhcr.ch Statistics, Asylum Trends). The full report contains data for 37 countries.

The final conclusions from the report state that overall the number of asylum applications lodged in these countries has decreased by 5.4% with the biggest drop in applications registered in Slovenia and Romania (both 54%) and the biggest increase in Malta (309%). The number of asylum applications registered in the European Union has decreased by 2%. Meanwhile the main receiving countries were UK (19% of all asylum claims lodged), USA (14%) and Germany (12%).

Monthly updates for January and February of this year are now also available.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Serbia and Montenegro becomes Council of Europe's 45th member state

Serbia and Montenegro acceded to the Statute of the Council of Europe and signed the European Convention on Human Rights, along with Protocol Nos. 6 and 13 on the abolition of the death penalty and Protocol Nos. 1, 4, 7, and 12 to the Convention on the 3^rd of April.

Council of Europe Conference on "Future Prospects of Migration in the Mediterranean"

The much-debated question of how to deal with irregular immigration was at the centre of a conference organised by the Maltese Government and the Council of Europe's Directorate General for Social Cohesion on 10 and 11 April 2003.

Opening the conference, the Council of Europe’s Deputy Secretary General Maud de Boer-Buquicchio spoke of the need for “orderly migration, social cohesion and respect for the individual”. She called for dialogue between countries of origin, transit and destination, so that migrants could enjoy proper legal protection for their basic rights, and said that the conference would discuss the establishment of a political forum for countries of migrant origin and destination and an agency to implement the Council of Europe's migration management strategy.

Officials responsible for migration issues in the 45 Council of Europe member states responded by stating their intention to set up a forum within the Organisation bringing together the countries of origin, transit and destination, as a means of implementing common and co-ordinated policies in this field. At the same time, a “European Migration Agency” would be responsible for the practical management of these activities.

Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner voices concerns regarding Roma/Gypsy communities

Speaking at the Fourth Seminar of Ombudsmen from European Union Member States, in Athens, on International Roma Day, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles stressed the growing problems confronting the Roma/Gypsy communities throughout Europe, both East and West, and in both member and candidate countries.

He stated “Difficulties with access to employment, with the loss or worsening condition of their homes and with poverty, marginalise these communities and expose them to exploitation by Roma/Gypsy and other criminal networks.”

He regretted that: “administrative practices diverged from regulations that were often liberal and led to discrimination as regards freedom of movement and access to social rights, especially health care.”

Report on the common policy on migration and asylum

On the 11th of March the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography presented a report on the development of a common policy on migration and asylum to the Parliamentary Assembly.

The Assembly stated that it is concerned that major differences in migration and asylum law and policy may produce considerable disparities in the treatment of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Therefore there is a clear need to establish a Council of Europe common policy on migration and asylum, setting out minimum standards. This policy should be placed in the context of the ECHR protection of human rights and the respect for dignity of the person.

Full document:

http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=http%3A%2F%2Fassembly.coe.int%2FDocuments%2FWorkingDocs%2FDoc03%2FEDOC9726.htm

Report on Chechnya and Ingushetia

“Report of the Commissioner of Human Rights, Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles on his visit to Russian Federation (Chechnya and Ingushetia) from 10-16 February 2003” is now available from:

http://www.commissioner.coe.int/docs/CommDH(2003)5_E.doc

The report focussed on three areas: insecurity and impunity in the republic, the need for a political settlement and the need to improve living conditions in Chechnya. The Commissioner urged the Russian authorities to carry out the process of re-establishing security and the rule of law with the requisite level of diligence and determination, noting however that more than three years after the Commissioner’s first visit to Chechnya, the problems noted then are as pressing as ever.

Council of Europe publications

‘Collection of treaties – Migration; summaries and texts of treaties (2002)’. The objective of this publication is to reply to the growing interest of specialists and the general public in questions concerning the rights of migrants by making available the main texts published by the Council of Europe in this field. ISBN 92-871-4939-9; price: 23€/ 35US$

New handbook series of the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI). ‘Volume 1: Minorities in International law: An introductory study’, by Gaetano Pentassuglia. ISBN 92-871-4773-6; price: 39€ / US$59

OSCE

Appointment of the new director of ODIHR

Austrian Ambassador Christian Strohal has assumed the post of the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), succeeding Swiss diplomat Gerard Stoudmann, who led the institution for almost 6 years .

Roma and Sinti meeting

A two-day special meeting, to be held in Vienna on 10 and 11 April will discuss the development of an OSCE Action Plan on Roma and Sinti, which is expected to be adopted by the Organization's Ministerial Council in December.

Report on Minorities in Kosovo

“Tenth Assessment of the Situation of Ethnic Minorities in Kosovo (Period covering May 2002 to December 2002)” is now available from:

http://www.osce.org/kosovo/documents/reports/minorities/min_rep_10_eng.pdf

ECRE’s Policy and Advocacy Publications

ECRE/USCR Study on Responding to the Asylum Access Challenge: An Agenda for Comprehensive Engagement in Protracted Refugee Situations

In partnership with US Committee for Refugees, ECRE has published a report on the asylum and access challenges facing policymakers in Europe and North America. The report provides recommendations in relation to resettlement, comprehensive engagement to resolve protracted refugee situations and an approach to asylum which incorporates external dimensions relating to crisis prevention, development, trade and human rights.

Statement on the Iraq Crisis: The Need for Access to Protection

ECRE has released a Statement on the Iraq Crisis: The Need for Access to Protection. The statement was agreed at the Bi-Annual General Meeting in Bucharest on the 20-22nd of March. It calls upon European governments to be ready to take action that would give effect to the principle of responsibility sharing in the event of mass population movements in Iraq or in the wider region of the Middle East and urges the governments to continue processing applications and not to return people to either Iraq or transit neighbouring countries.

Guidelines for the treatment of Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in Europe

ECRE has released Guidelines for the treatment of Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in Europe on the 15^th of April. The guidelines assess the situation in Afghanistan as still unstable and urges the European governments to give all Afghan asylum claimants the opportunity to lodge an application and have it processed with minimum delay. They also strongly recommend voluntary return as a focus of any European return plan to Afghanistan.

Updated position on the integration of refugees in Europe

ECRE has released the updated position on the integration of refugees in Europe. The position urges states to develop national integration strategies and implement a national integration law. While NGOs do play an important role in the integration process, refugee integration should be considered the primary responsibility of national governments.

Good Practice Guides

ECRE has published a new series of Good Practice Guides on the 17th of March. These Good Practice Guides have been developed by ECRE agencies active in the field of reception and integration of refugees. They cover educational advice to refugees, working with older refugees, and assisting traumatised child-refugees, and represent the culmination of two years’ work of thematic networks in these areas.

Legal and Social conditions for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Western Europe

ECRE, together with the Danish Refugee Council is currently updating the former's authoritative report on the Legal and Social conditions for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Western Europe, last published in 2000. Updated chapters have now been published on France, Switzerland and Ireland. Chapters are soon to be published on Spain, Hungary and Greece and Austria.

All material available at http://www.ecre.org

UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE

The Communications of the Committee are available of the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights http://www.unhchr.ch

Canada

During Its 29^th Session in November 2002, the Committee Against Torture considered a complaint by Mr. V.N.I.M. against Canada for alleged violation of Article 3 of the CAT (Communication No. 119/1998 of 19/12/2002)

In January 1997, the applicant, a national from Honduras, came to Canada where he applied for asylum. His request for asylum was first denied on 17 September 1997. Subsequently, he submitted an application for judicial review to the Federal Court of Canada, which was rejected on 6 February 1998. In his claim, the applicant submitted that he was detained in 1988 in Honduras as he was accused by the military of having planted a bomb in a building where he was arrested. While seriously injured, he was interrogated and claims that doctors amputated his arm under pressure from the military in order to make him reveal names of his alleged accomplices. Following his arrest, he was detained for three years and four months during which he was subjected to torture and ill-treatment. Meanwhile the San Pedro Sula Criminal Court dismissed the proceeding against him for lack of evidence.

The applicant managed to flee to Costa Rica in May 1992 where he remained till March 1993. He then returned to Honduras and lived in a small village near the border with El Salvador until 1995.

After having failed to obtain a disability pension in 1996, he claims to have been arrested again and subjected to physical abuse.

The CAT concluded that the existence in a country of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights is not in itself a sufficient reason for establishing that a particular person would be in danger of being subjected to torture if the person was to be returned to that country. It added there must be other reasons to suggest that the person concerned would personally be in danger. It added that the absence of a consistent pattern of flagrant violations of human rights does not mean that a person cannot be subjected to torture in his own particular situation.

In this case, the Committee considered that the complainant has not demonstrated that he is an opponent of the regime who is wanted for terrorist activities. Consequently, it concluded that the return of the complainant to Honduras would not constitute a breach of Article 3 of the Convention.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)

The full text of the following reports are available on: http://www.cpt.coe.int

“CPT Standards” and further documents about the CPT are now available in Estonian, German, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Ukrainian and Turkish on the CPT website

CPT Reports: Germany

On 12 march 2003, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) published its report assessing the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in Germany. The report, published at the request of the German authorities together with their response, concerns the CPT's fourth visit to Germany carried out in December 2000.

During the visit, the CPT followed up issues examined during the previous three visits to Germany and, in particular, the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty under aliens legislation. Issues tackled for the first time in Germany included the treatment of persons placed in forensic psychiatric institutions and of persons living in homes for the elderly.

The CPT found that the premises at Frankfurt am Main Airport for foreign nationals subject to the airport procedure could hardly offer satisfactory living conditions. In their response, the German authorities indicated that these premises have been replaced by more appropriate facilities.

The CPT also severely criticised the conditions in which, at the time of the visit, certain patients were secluded in secure rooms at the Forensic Psychiatric Section in Wiesloch. In its response, the Government referred to a series of measures taken to remedy this situation.

Luxembourg

On 2 February 2003, a delegation of the CPT carried out a 6 days visit to Luxembourg. It was the Committee's second periodic visit to the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg.

During the visit, the delegation followed up a certain number of issues already examined during the two previous visits, in particular in respect of the Luxembourg Prison at Schrassig and the State Socio-Educational Centre for Boys at Dreiborn. In addition, the delegation examined in detail the situation of foreign nationals deprived of their liberty under aliens legislation.

Macedonia

On 16 January 2003, the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has authorized the publication of reports drawn up by the CPT, after ad hoc visits in October 2001 and July 2002.

The visits focussed on the treatment of persons detained by the State's law enforcement agencies. From the facts found, the CPT concludes that the physical ill treatment of such persons is a serious problem, affecting ordinary criminal suspects as well as those suspected of crimes against the State. Moreover, the information gathered by the Committee revealed that there is no guarantee that an effective investigation will be carried out, when it comes to the attention of judges and prosecutors, that a person may have sustained injuries while in police custody.

The Anti-Torture Committee calls upon the national authorities to ensure that a formal statement from the highest political level is delivered to law enforcement officials, making clear to them that the ill-treatment of detained persons will not be tolerated. The Committee also identifies specific measures to be applied by the various authorities, judges and prosecutors, as well as the police and prison services, to prevent police ill treatment and combat impunity.

In their response to the October 2001 visit report, the national authorities describe various measures taken to implement the CPT's recommendations. They highlight, in particular, recent professional training activities for law enforcement officials, carried out in accordance with the Ohrid Framework Agreement.

Moldova

A delegation of the CPT has terminated, on 4 March 2003, a six-day visit to the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. This region unilaterally declared itself an independent republic in 1991 and negotiations aimed at resolving this situation are still under way.

It was the CPT's second visit to the region, the first visit having taken place in November 2000. The CPT's delegation examined developments since its first visit, in particular as regards the treatment of persons held in penitentiary establishments. It also assessed the means required to improve the situation of such persons.

The delegation visited Prison No. 1 in Glinoe as well as Colony No. 2 and the remand prison (SIZO) at Colony No. 3 in Tiraspol. It also visited the Police Headquarters and the temporary holding facility (IVS) and administrative detention facility in Tiraspol.

Romania

On 9 February 2003, a delegation of the Council of Europe’s CPT carried out a three-day visit to Romania.

The main purpose of the visit was to re-examine conditions of detention in the General Directorate of the Police in Bucharest. The CPT visited this establishment in 1995, 1999 and, most recently, September 2002. Following the last visit, the Romanian authorities informed the CPT of measures taken to improve the situation in this establishment and invited the Committee to return to review developments.

Russia

A delegation of the CPT has recently carried out a one-week visit to the Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation. It was the CPT’s first visit to this enclave of the Russian Federation.

The visit focused mainly on the arrangements for the transit of prisoners and psychiatric patients between the Kaliningrad Region and the rest of Russia, and the authorities' plans for the future. To avoid lengthy delays and other problems related to the transfer of prisoners, the regional authorities are in the process of setting up facilities offering the full range of regimes envisaged by the legislation.

The CPT's delegation also explored the application in practice of the provisions of the new Code of Criminal Procedure regarding police detention.

Spain

On 13 March 2003, the CPT published a report examining the safeguards against ill treatment by law enforcement officials in Spain.

During the visit, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment continued to receive allegations of ill treatment by National Police and Civil Guard officers. It also gathered evidence, including of a medical nature, consistent with those allegations. In its report, the CPT concludes that the existing legal framework fails to provide detained persons with an effective set of safeguards against ill treatment.

The report, published at the request of the Spanish authorities together with their response, concerns a visit carried out in July 2001. In their response, the Spanish authorities indicate that they do not consider it necessary to review the current legal framework.

Sweden

The CPT carried out a visit to Sweden from 27 January to 5 February 2003. It is the Committee's fourth visit to Sweden.

The CPT's delegation reviewed measures taken by the Swedish authorities in response to recommendations made after previous visits, in particular as regards the safeguards offered to persons detained by the police, mechanisms for handling complaints against the police and the regimes offered to remand prisoners. It also examined the situation in psychiatric institutions and in homes providing care for young persons and substance abusers.

Turkey: visit to Abdullah Ocalan

On 19 February 2003, a delegation from the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) returned from a two-day visit to Turkey. The delegation, which comprised a Belgian lawyer and a Swiss forensic doctor, visited the prison on the island of Imralı and interviewed Abdullah ÖCALAN, the establishment’s sole inmate.

The visit was triggered by persistent reports that relatives and lawyers of Abdullah Ocalan have been experiencing considerable difficulties in gaining access to Imralı island in order to visit him. The delegation reviewed his conditions of detention in the light of recommendations made by the CPT after its previous visits to Imralı Closed Prison (in March 1999 and September 2001).

In the course of the visit, the CPT’s delegation met the Levent Ersuz, Regional Gendarmerie Commander of Bursa and Emin Ozler, Chief Public Prosecutor of Bursa, and discussed in detail with them means of ensuring that Abdullah Öcalan's right to receive visits from his relatives and lawyers is fully effective in practice. Further, the delegation held consultations with two of Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers.

United Kingdom: Suspected international terrorists detained in the UK

On 12 February 2003, the CPT published a report assessing the treatment of foreigners detained in the United Kingdom pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. The report, published at the request of the United Kingdom authorities together with their response, concerns a visit carried out in February 2002.

The CPT's delegation heard no allegations of physical ill treatment by police officers of persons detained under the 2001 Act and, with one exception, there were no allegations of physical ill treatment by prison officers. Some allegations of verbal abuse were received.

Persons detained pursuant to the 2001 Act were being treated as Category A prisoners, the highest security risk classification. Their material conditions of detention were of an adequate standard. However, as regards out-of-cell time and activities, the situation found left a great deal to be desired. In their response, the United Kingdom authorities inform the CPT that persons detained under the 2001 Act have been moved to units capable of offering enhanced activities and that their regime is subject to ongoing review.

As regards health care, the CPT recommended that consideration be given to the specific needs - both present and future - of persons detained under the 2001 Act, in terms of psychological support and/or psychiatric treatment. In their response, the United Kingdom authorities underline the commitment of health care staff to providing an adequate level of care to the detainees.

Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer welcomed the decision to publish these documents and highlighted the constructive spirit that characterizes the well-established co-operation between the Committee and the United Kingdom. Mr. Schwimmer also expressed his appreciation of the clear statement by the United Kingdom Government that actions taken by its institutions and officials to combat terrorism and to preserve a democratic society will at all times be in accordance with the fundamental human rights of any person against whom action is taken.

European Court of Human Rights

The full text of the following cases are available on: http://www.echr.coe.int

Expulsion of a 16-year old Bosnian is a violation of Article 8 [Jakupovic v. Austria (Appl.No. 36757/97)]

On 6 February 2003, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held by four votes to three that there was a violation of Article 8 of the Convention in the case of Jakupovic against Austria.

The applicant, Elvis Jakupovic, a national of Bosnia-Herzegovina had filed a complaint, on 8 April 1997, under Article 8 of the Convention arguing that a residence prohibition imposed on him by the Austrian Authorities violated his right to respect for his private and family life.

The applicant was born in 1979 in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In 1991, he came to Austria together with his younger brother and joined his mother who had already been living and working there.

Following several convictions for burglary and possession of arms in 1994 and 1995, the Vocklabruck District Administrative Authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft), on 28 September 1995, issued a ten year residence prohibition against the applicant finding that the applicant’s further stay in Austria was contrary to the public interest due to his past convictions. These considerations were not outweighed by his family links. On 18 December 1995, the applicant was remanded in custody on suspicion of having committed further burglaries and was sentenced by the Wels Regional Court to a term of imprisonment of ten weeks, suspended for a probationary period of three years. On the same day, the applicant was released from detention on remand.

The applicant appealed to the Upper Austria Public Security Authority (Sicherheitsdirektion) and the Administrative Court consecutively against his removal. However, all of them found that the authorities had correctly found that the residence prohibition was necessary in the public interest and did not constitute a disproportionate interference with the applicant’s family situation. Consequently, the applicant was taken into detention and was deported to Sarajevo on 9 April 1997.

Before the Court in Strasbourg, the applicant submitted that the residence prohibition constitutes a disproportionate measure as the offences of which he was convicted were merely minor acts of juvenile delinquency. He added that the Austrian authorities did not sufficiently consider his private family situation and submitted that before his deportation in April 1997, he had developed strong ties with Austria as he had been living with his mother and siblings.

The Government of Austria accepted that the residence prohibition interfered with the applicant’s right to respect for his private and family life. They argued however that the measure at issue was justified under paragraph 2 of Article 8, being in accordance with the law-the relevant provisions of the Aliens Act- and having pursued the legitimate aim of the prevention of disorder or crime. The Government further contended that that measure was necessary in a democratic society within the meaning of Article 8 (2) of the Convention and that the Austrian authorities have not overstepped their margin of appreciation.

In its decision, the Court had to deal with the issue of whether the Government’s interference was ‘necessary in a democratic society’. By four votes to three, the Court found that the applicant’s criminal record was not a justification for sending a young person (16 years old), alone, to a country which has recently experienced a period of armed conflict with all its adverse effects on living conditions and with no evidence of close relatives living there. The Court added that the applicant’s conviction cannot be compared to a conviction for an act of violence, and there is no indication that such charges have ever been brought against the applicant.

Iranian Case declared admissible under Article 2, 3 ECHR and Article 1 Protocol No. 6 [Razaghi v. Sweden (Appl. No. 64599/01)]

In an admissibility decision of 11 March 2003, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) declared the application of Mr Ali Reza Razaghi against Sweden admissible on alleged violations of Articles 2 and 3 of the ECHR as well as Article 1 of Protocol No. 6 to the Convention. The applicant is an Iranian national who had applied for asylum in Sweden on 30 November 1998. He stated that he feared persecution by the Iranian authorities because of a relationship with a married woman whose husband was a mullah. He claims that the woman had been sentenced and that an arrest warrant had been issued against him. On 7 February 1999, he converted to Christianity.

On 14 April 1999, the National Immigration Board rejected the application due to lack of evidence and because it did not find the applicant’s allegations plausible. The Board also ordered the expulsion of the applicant to Iran. On 13 November 2000, the Aliens Appeals Board rejected the applicant’s appeal. It noted that he had not produced any evidence showing that he had had the above-mentioned relationship or that he would be subjected to inhuman treatment, neither on account of this, nor due to his conversion to Christianity.

On 14 December 2000, the applicant lodged a new application for a residence permit with the Aliens Appeals Board. On 11 January 2001, he lodged the application to the ECtHR, in which he complained of violations of Article 2, 3, 6 and 9 of the ECHR and Article 1 of Protocol 6.

The Government contested that domestic remedies had not been exhausted since the application of 14 December 2000, which includes new evidence (a medical certificate, issued in January 2001) was still pending.

While the ECtHR accepted that the applicant has made a claim and provided material evidence, which has not been examined by the Swedish authorities, the Court held that he has done what is incumbent upon him under Article 35 (1) ECHR in order to exhaust domestic remedies with regard to his first application for asylum. Also, since the Aliens Appeals Board had still not decided on his second application, the Court found that this new application couldn’t be considered as an effective remedy in his case.

The Swedish Government also submitted that the application should be declared inadmissible as manifestly ill-founded. In light of the parties’ submissions, the Court considered however that the complaint raises serious issues of fact and law under the Convention and did not share the Government’s view regarding the ill-foundedness of the application.

With regard to the alleged violation of Article 6 ECHR, the Court noted that in exceptional circumstances, it would not exclude the possibility that an issue might be raised under this provision, where the person being expelled has suffered or risks suffering a flagrant denial of fair trial in the country of origin referring to the Soering v. UK case (1989, Series A, No. 161). However, in this case, the Court found that the submissions made by the applicant did not disclose that he would face such a risk. The complaint was therefore rejected as manifestly ill-founded in accordance with Article 35 (3) and (4) ECHR.

Regarding the applicant’s right to freedom of religion (Article 9 ECHR), the Court observed that, in so far as any alleged consequence in Iran of the applicant’s conversion to Christianity attains the level of treatment prohibited under Article 3 ECHR, it would be dealt with under that provision. The Court considered that the applicant’s expulsion could not separately engage the Swedish Government’s responsibility under Article 9 ECHR. As a result, this complaint was rejected for being incompatible ratione materiae with the provisions of ECHR within the meaning of Article 35 (3) and (4) ECHR.

Romania ratifies Protocol No. 13 ECHR

On 7/4/2003, the Romanian Justice Minister, Rodica Mihaela Stanoiu handed to Maud de Boer-Buquicchio the instrument of ratification of Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances.