The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention statement upon the conclusion of its mission to Greece

Date: 
Friday, October 4, 2013

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention visited Greece from 21 January to 31 January. In its end-of-mission statement, the Group underlines several flaws in Greece's detention policies, in particular regarding asylum seekers. The Group notes that disproportionately long detention of asylum seekers with no application of alternatives and in absence of effective judicial review may be considered as arbitrary. Moreover, the Group considers that detention as long as 18 months (which is the maximum in Greece for asylum seekers) in deficient conditions may amount to unwarranted punishment. The Group generally observes discrepancies between the law and the practice, especially with regard to free legal assistance and to detention conditions. The Working Group will deliver its full report in the following months to the UN Human Rights Council.

Find the end-of-mission statement in the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's website


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Keywords: 
Legal assistance / Legal representation / Legal aid
Detention
Tags: 
Spain
Greece