In its 2022 annual report which was published on 30 March, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) called on European States to protect foreigners deprived of their liberty—under immigration law—from ill-treatment and to put an end to their being pushed back at land and sea borders, in particular at the external borders of the European Union.
“Many European countries face very complex migration challenges at their borders, but this does not mean they can ignore their human rights obligations. Pushbacks are illegal, unacceptable and must end”, stated CPT President Alan Mitchell.
The CPT lists forms of physical ill-treatment inflicted during arrests and so-called “pushback” operations, including slaps and punches by police, border guards, and coastguards, who sometimes remove their badges or insignia to avoid being identified.
To put an end to this, it recommends that every individual intercepted or apprehended at the border be identified and registered before undergoing a medical examination and a vulnerability assessment.
The CPT goes on to say that the individual must be given the opportunity to apply for asylum. It also calls for these persons to be given access to a lawyer and a doctor as well as the option to file an appeal, should removal orders be issued.
Law enforcement officials’ identification numbers should remain visible, and officers should not be allowed to wear balaclavas.
Also reported were deplorable conditions of detention in police and border guard stations and in informal places of detention as well as during transport during removal.
Link to the CPT report: https://aeur.eu/f/64t (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)