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This photo shows dozens of migrants waiting in front of emergency shelters a at a Lampedusa first-level reception center Photo/ANSA/Archive
This photo shows dozens of migrants waiting in front of emergency shelters a at a Lampedusa first-level reception center Photo/ANSA/Archive

CPT says Italy has no complaint system for detained migrants

Latest update : 2018/04/23
By ANSA Latest update : 2018/04/23

The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) said in its annual report that Italy doesn't offer detained migrants any complaint mechanisms. These are an essential safeguard against abuse.

The president of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), Mykola Gnatovskyy, said that although complaints mechanisms in Italian prisons work well, there is no such system for migrants who are held in detention centres in the country. The statement came as the CPT released its 27th annual report. In the report, the organisation outlines principles to regulate the functions of complaints mechanisms for all people being deprived of their liberty in prisons, police stations, migrant detention centres, psychiatric institutions and other places of detention.


 Mechanism against torture 

"These mechanisms, which are non-existent in many countries and display major shortcomings in others, are a fundamental safeguard against torture and mistreatment," the CPT said, adding that "their existence shows that the atmosphere in the place of detention is good". Regarding Italy, Gnatovskyy referred to recent visits conducted in the country, and said "(prison) detainees now have various ways to file complaints" and that "these are well-known and used without fear". He said the same is not true for migrants deprived of their liberty. 

In the CPT report published last year on the organisation's periodic visit to Italy, it said authorities should increase information about complaints mechanisms for people being held in Residences for the Execution of Security Measures (REMS). Over half-million received protection status in EU in 2017 Eurostat said 538,000 asylum seekers received protection status in the EU in 2017, a 25% decrease compared to 2016 figures. Germany granted over 60% of the approvals (325,400), followed by France (40,600), Italy (35,100), Austria (34,000) and Sweden (31,200). On an EU-wide level, the top three nationalities of asylum seekers were Syrian, Afghan (100,705) and Iraqi (64,270).