JRS-Europe organised a “Late Journalist Breakfast” in Brussels - EU Asylum and Returns Policy: A unique opportunity to meet ex-detainees Invitation to journalists can be found here Monday 19th June 09.30am Maelbeek Room, International Press Centre, Residence Palace, Brussels On the eve of World Refugee Day 2006, Jesuit Refugee Service – Europe gathered ex-detainees who were willing to share their experiences in administrative detention centres in the EU. They offered a unique insight into the EU detention system, being able to reveal the true human cost of detention in Europe today. Journalists and members of the 25 Permanent Representations were invited to meet these guests for a breakfast at the International Press Centre, Brussels. Attention was also drawn to to a subject frequently overlooked: the financial costs of detention. Prof. Dr. Anton van Kalmthout, Professor of Penal and Migration Law at Tilburg University and member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), detailed figures on this topic. In line with the launch of the International Coalition on Detention on 20th June, Dr. Daphné Bouteillet-Paquet (Amnesty International EU Office) outlined the aims and objectives of the Coalition. (see www.idcoalition.org)   Press Release: 20 June 2006, World Refugee Day Rome, Italy, 19 June 2006 Solidarity against unjust immigration detention Worldwide launches of International Coalition on Detention of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants “We are extremely pleased that so many organisations worldwide are actively taking part in the struggle against the inappropriate, unethical, and often illegal, use by governments of immigration detention. That all these media events are taking place on or around World Refugee Day demonstrates just how important this particular issue is to the protection of refugees”, said Fr Lluís Magriñà, International Director, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). JRS is involved in organising or participating in events around the world this week to announce the launch of the international detention coalition. The following are just a few examples. On 19 June, in Johannesburg, a press conference was held to launch the coalition together with Lawyers for Human Rights’ report on the state of refugee protection in South Africa. The same day in Washington DC, a press conference took place at the National Press Club with speakers about detention in the United States, including testimony from Pascal Ewane Akame, a formerly detained torture survivor. On 19 June, in Brussels, a journalists’ breakfast was organised – with former immigration detainees sharing their experiences and insights. On 15 June, in Rome, an inter-religious round table discussion was held with senior representatives from the Muslim, Jewish and Catholic communities. “Arbitrary imprisonment poisons human society. It also harms those who practice it as well as those who suffer it...I hope that governments will listen to the recommendations of the coalition and that detention should only be used as a last resort, and that alternatives to it should always be considered,” said Cardinal Martino, President of the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace at the coalition launch event in Rome. Notes to the editor: JRS works in over 50 countries in six continents around the world. It employs over 1,000 staff: lay, Jesuits and other religious to meet the education, health, social and other needs of over 450,000 refugees and IDPs. Its services are provided to refugees regardless of their race, ethnic origin, or religious beliefs. JRS is a founding member of the International Coalition on the Detention of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants. The coalition has been set up to raise awareness of governments’ detention policies and practices and to promote greater protection and respect for the human rights of detainees. It advocates limiting the use of, seeking alternatives to, and using the least restrictive forms of, immigration detention. The international detention coalition involves over one hundred members (non-governmental organisations (NGOs), faith-based organisations, academics and individuals) in 36 countries from around the world – all from countries where individuals are detained purely on the basis of their immigration status. The steering committee of the Coalition brings together a number of leading international NGOs which share concerns about the treatment of immigration detainees, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, Jesuit Refugee Service, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, World Council of Churches, and a number of national NGOs. ................ James Stapleton, Communications Coordinator Jesuit Refugee Service (Int. Office) Tel: +39-06 68977390 Fax: +39-06 6897 7380 Email: james.stapleton(a)jrs.net {please change (a) to @}   Press Release: JRS International, 15th June 2006 "Senior Muslim, Jewish, Catholic leaders support launch of international coalition challenging the detention of migrants and refugees."