The IDC, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and UNHCR collaborated in Dhaka, Bangladesh in October 2011 on the South Asian Immigration Detention Workshop, which aimed, for the first time, to map immigration detention across the sub-region and develop collaborative actions plans.
27 participants attended from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, including civil society, human rights commissions and UNHCR.
A number of shared concerns were identified across the region, including treatment and protection concerns, lack and limitations on access, asylum and legal provision and use of overcrowded prisons, which fall below international human rights standards. Groups also outlined the need for greater consultation, coordination and capacity building on immigration detention across the sub-region.
The role of the judiciary was found to be the strongest we have seen in the region, with advocacy opportunities explored and detailed in draft national action plans.
In particular a number of existing alternatives to immigration detention were identified, many of which are underutilised or not implemented. This include:
• Bangladesh – Bail; court orders
• India – Surety; registration
• Nepal – Payment of fines; release to family, UNHCR or civil society; community service order; provisional release
• Sri Lanka – Registration; Community shelter for asylum seekers
• Pakistan – Documentation; registration; bail; institutional surety bond.
Following the sub-regional workshop, civil society groups across the region will meet in Kuala Lumpur end of November for the Asia Pacific Immigration Detention Working Group Workshop, which will be an opportunity to further develop the regional action plan process, aimed at:
1. Ending detention by encouraging release, alternatives to detention and minimising the use of detention.
2. Improving conditions, protection and access to justice
We greatly appreciated the input and enthusiasm of members who attended and look forward to ongoing collaboration.
Grant Mitchell,
November 1, 2011
