The organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed its concern at the new French asylum and migration bill, which the French parliament is preparing to examine this week.
In a press statement, the NGO expresses concerns that the immigration, asylum and integration bill could end up damaging asylum seekers' access to protection. Amongst other things, it flags up the lack of equity in accelerated procedures (the period for filing an asylum application would be reduced from 120 days from the date of entering French territory to 90 days).
“But asylum seekers face significant obstacles to filing their applications, in many cases finding it difficult or impossible to get legal or other assistance they need, within a shorter time period”. The NGO also refers to the shortened appeals timeframe. The bill would reduce from one month to 15 days the time available to appeal against a negative decision; nor would expulsions be suspended pending the judgment.
HRW also criticises the fact that the maximum administrative detention period for those awaiting deportation would be increased from 45 to 90 days.
“This draft law does not address the issue of the detention of migrant children, when it could have been an opportunity for France to abolish this practice”, the NGO states. Between 2012 and 2016, France was ruled against by the European Court of Human Rights over this practice six times. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)