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Detainees

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JRS Belgium - www.jrsbelgium.org Political Developments On 1 June 2007, a new asylum procedure was implemented. The principal aim of this reform was to accelerate the asylum process. A new administrative jurisdiction, Conseil du Contentieux des Etrangers, was created. This reform included the possibility that the seriously ill, those unable to be treated in their country of origin, could get a legal residency in Belgium. Unfortunately, the law also offered new possibilities to detain asylum seekers. The result was an increase in the number of detained asylum seekers, particularly persons who fell under the Dublin II Regulation. The detention of children continued to be a contentious political topic. From 1 June, unaccompanied minors were no longer detained, but transferred to an open orientation centre. Two specific cases attracted a lot of media attention: a Georgian girl, Tiko, who had been living in Belgium for six years and an 11 years old Ecuadorian called Angelica. Both were detained with their parents for several weeks. These stories raised the issue of the detention of families with children. Independent research was published, requested by the Minister of Internal Affairs, on alternatives to the detention of families with children. The Commissioner’s Office for the Rights of the Child published a dossier with a chapter about detained children. Both documents advocated against the detention of families with children, due to the associated trauma. Nevertheless, the detention of children continued. For more than six months in 2007 there was no new Belgium government and this political instability has clear consequences for immigration policy. This was illustrated by the lack of progress on the legalisation of undocumented migrants. This issue was kept high on the agenda by NGOs and migrants themselves who demanded a legalisation process with clear criteria. Hunger strikes were used several times to protest against arbitrary decisions.

JRS Activities

Detention

JRS Belgium’s priority remains the accompaniment of and advocacy for asylum seekers and migrants detained in closed centres. In 2007, several persons were involved in regular visits to detainees in the five detention centres in Belgium. The main tasks were listening, giving moral support and legal counselling and making contact with lawyers and families.

The main tasks include listening, giving moral support and legal counselling and making contact with lawyers and family. This regular presence makes it possible to monitor the global situation and to advocate for the detainees at various levels, including that of political decision makers. This work is carried out in close partnership with other NGOs.

Advocacy and awareness-raising

Before the general elections in June, JRS Belgium had contact with several political parties inviting them to include in their programmes measures enhancing the protection of asylum seekers and migrants, in particular those in detention.

The report on detention published in October 2006 by several NGOs, including JRS Belgium, was followed up in 2007 by meetings with the Aliens Board (the administration in charge of detention policy) to discuss the report and its recommendations. A few positive results were achieved, namely in the field of psychological assistance to detainees. Several political parties showed their interest in the report, and the French speaking Socialist party issued a law proposal based on the findings and recommendations. NGOs met a delegation of MEPs to inform them about worrying detention practices prior to their visit to several detention centres in October.

Throughout the year, JRS Belgium advocated against the detention of children. In addition to offering support to lawyers challenging the detention of families with children, JRS Belgium invited other NGOs to sign an open letter asking the Minister of Interior to immediately halt the detention of children. This open letter was published in two national newspapers on International Children’s Day.

On St Nicolas’ Day (6 December), JRS Belgium in collaboration with other NGOs, visited the Ministry of Interior to hand over drawings and letters that children from all over Belgium had made calling for an end to the detention of children.

To mark World Refugee Day JRS Belgium joined JRS Europe in an inter-religious vigil to mark those who had died while trying to access European territory.

In April, JRS Belgium took part in the ‘Who can stay?’ campaign. The public was able to choose between several actors representing undocumented migrants and decide who should be legalised. The aim of the campaign was to stress the arbitrary nature of these decisions. JRS Belgium was present at a national demonstration asking for clear procedures and criteria for legalisation.

 JRS Belgium participated in several conferences and workshops about migration and asylum issues.

Internal News

On December 4, JRS Belgium became a legally recognised non-profit organisation (asbl). The work on the JRS Belgium website was completed. The site is regularly updated and is available at www.jrsbelgium.org