This report, published by Cordelia Foundation, Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Foundation for Access to Rights, and the Assistance Centre for Torture Survivors, explores the experiences of migrant survivors of torture in detention in Hungary and Bulgaria. The findings are based on visits to detention centers by monitoring teams comprising of legal and mental health professionals, working on the Supporting Torture Survivors: Rehabilitation and Empowerment – a Need and Goal for Treatment and Help (STRENGTH) project by Cordelia Foundation and the Assistance Centre for Torture Survivors. The report outlines the legal framework of the detention of asylum seekers in Hungary and Bulgaria, identifies the problems with the existing system, and suggests recommendations for state governments to implement to improve the conditions for this vulnerable group. 

In particular, the report identifies the following problems in the access of torture survivor and traumatised asylum seekers to rights and care in both Bulgaria and Hungary: the lack of systematic identification; the scarce and confusing information which contributes to re-trausmatisation in detention; the lack of training and sensitization of staff; the unnecessary limitation of detainees’ contact with the outside world; the unavailability of interpretation; and the lack of availability of specialized medical, social, and psychological care, among others. 

The report provides the following recommendations to the respective state governments: 

  • Introduction of standard identification procedures led by experts, to be carried out upon registration or placement in a detention center
  • Dissemination of information about the asylum procedure and detention to asylum seekers by verified and trained asylum officers
  • Provision of sensitization training to staff of asylum and immigration detention facilities
  • Creation of formal cooperation with NGOs providing services in the field
  • Asylum seekers should be able to keep their mobile phones and be provided with wireless Wifi signal
  • Professional interpreters speaking the language of people detained should be made available
  • Detained asylum seekers who have been subjected to torture, rape or other serious acts of violence must have access to appropriate medical treatment or care and have their situation regularly monitored
  • Unnecessary limitations on internal freedom of movement in detention centers should be lifted, in order to reflect the non-punitive nature of immigration detention
  • Courtyards at detention facilities must provide the effective possibility for a meaningful outdoor stay

Childhub

You might like..

0
119
This report examines the prevailing legislative and policy framework in Malta regarding age assessment and guardianship procedures for UAMs, as measured against international and regional law standards. Particular attention is paid to the reforms…
0
38
Integration is the exception The European Union has repeatedly criticized the Greek government for the obstacles to the social integration of refugees and migrants and has urged it to provide more opportunities. According to the narrative of a…
0
2
This report is based on a combination of field visits as well as detailed desk research. Amnesty International delegates visited the immigration detention centre on the island of Samos in June 2009 and the Mersinidiou detention centre on the island…
0
21
Surrey in the UK is helping lonely children seeking asylum. Here are the personal stories of two young people whom Surrey worked with. Mohammed’s story Mohamad (turning soon 18) arrived in the UK by smuggling himself from France through a…
no
0
34
Albania: NGO calls for Parliamentary Inquiry to investigate exponential number of Albanian children who have applied for asylum outside of the country in the last 10 years Context: CRCA/ECPAT, a children’s organization found that over 60,000…
0
2
The broad objective of this research was to investigate the extent to which implementation of the Qualification Directive delivers international protection to persons fleeing situations of indiscriminate violence, and to ascertain whether a…
no
0
15
TACT is using the occasion of refugee week, celebrated 14–20 June, to call on the UK government to change the way unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) are treated. This may involve increasing funds in local…
0
143
"Co-creating a Counselling Method for Refugee Women GBV Victims" aims to inform and support refugee women who have been victims of gender-based violence and to improve their access to services.  The purpose of this training…
0
10
This report examines the experiences and views of separated, asylum seeking children and those of adults responsible for their care across 12 European Union Member States. It addresses the need to incorporate children’s views and accounts of their…
0
5
In March 2009, the FRA published its report on indicators for the protection, respect and promotion of the rights of the child in the EU. The core areas covered by the indicators include: “family environment and alternative care”, “protection from…
0
38
The present study first and foremost aims at collecting data and examples about practices in Council of Europe Member States concerning the situation of unaccompanied and separated asylum seeking children (UASASC) when they reach the age of…
yes
0
11
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Terre des hommes is calling on States to release all children from immigration detention, and to accelerate the release of children deprived of liberty in criminal justice or protection facilities. Urgent attention…
0
58
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that the first Safety Zone for unaccompanied children in the RRC Sofia - Voenna Rampa opened its doors on 17 June, 2019. During its first week, 39 unaccompanied children were…
0
4
Education is a human right and according to the Greek Council for Refugees “the children of asylum seekers and children seeking international protection have access to the education system under similar conditions to Greek nationals." However,…
no
0
32
The main aim of this tool kit is to help migrants discover their talents and build a future in the Netherlands or in their country of origin. Solid Road Foundation does this through vocational training, coaching, and guidance. One of their new…