In a statement jointly prepared by the International Detention Coalition (IDC), Migrant Forum Asia (MFA), Migrants' Rights International (MRI) and the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR) and endorsed by more than one hundred organisations, "great concern" is expressed for the increasing use of various forms of detention as a migration management tool.

With less and less distinction made as to their different legal statuses under national, as well as international law, and with decreasing attention to specific vulnerabilityes of age, gener and circumstance, irregular migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are being detained in some of more of the following ways:

• In removal centres, immigration detention factilities, prisons, police stations, airports, hotels, in ships and shipping containers, as well as in closed camps;
• On arrival in a country, pending a final immigration decision or while awaiting removal from the country.

Migration-related detention not only creates incredible hardships on those in detention, it also separates families, disrupts communities and diverts both governmental and non-governmental actors from more humane, reasonable and cost-effective alternatives to detention.

NGOs encourage all States to consider and implement legislation and policies that ensure that human rights standards are maintained and upheld.

Joint statement on migrants in detention (447.61 KB)