ANDES: Romanian legislators address destitution
ROMANIAN IMMIGRATION OFFICE TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO NEW ALIENS LAW

Wednesday, 20 May - JRS Romania has organised a seminar concerning access to the labour market and the right to work for destitute persons.  Under the auspices of the ANDES project,    participants included judges who deal with asylum cases, public custody and forced return cases, the Romanian Immigration Office, the public prosecutor, the Ombudsman (the People's Advocate), UNHCR Romania, and another NGO partner.  

At the seminar, the Romanian Immigration Office announced that they intend to bring amendments to a new aliens law that will grant the right to work to destitute persons (who occupy a tolerated status in Romania).  

Additional themes included the procedure of forced returns, rights and obligations during the forced return  and the topic of undesirability.  Participants were particularly interested in the subject of undesirability, with judges expressing their concerns about decision making while unacquainted with a person's Intelligence Service report - which proposes this undesirability measure. 

Following on from the requests of many participants, an invitation for a visit and seminar in the Otopeni Public custody centre has been launched.