Migrants in Detention: Lives on Hold
The report documents the unacceptable living conditions in the three detention centers in order to raise awareness and express concerns about the impact of the current detention system on the mental health and wellbeing of migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Greece. It shows that detention can exacerbate existing symptoms and contribute to new traumas and psychological distress. Asylum seekers and migrants arriving in Greece have often experienced traumatic events. Living conditions in detention centers do not meet national and international legal standards, e.g. overcrowding, unacceptable hygiene conditions, irregular distribution of personal hygiene items and clothing, lack of provisions for the accommodation of vulnerable groups, family separation and inadequate time outdoors. The number of medical staff is often insufficient and new arrivals are not systematically screened. The absence of interpreters is a serious constraint for communication between detained migrants and the staff working in the detention centers. Moreover, new arrivals do not receive information about their legal status, the detention system and the right to apply for asylum.
The report provides a list of recommends that the government of Greece:
• Ensure dignified living conditions in detention facilities for migrants and asylum seekers, including suitable accommodation, sufficient distribution of food, clothing and personal hygiene items, adequate time outdoors, access to information about the detention system as well as the right to apply for asylum;
• Guarantee appropriate hygiene standards in detention facilities for migrants and asylum seekers;
• Provide adequate medical care to detained migrants and asylum seekers including specific care for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, and systematic medical screening for new arrivals;
• Provide psychological counseling and mental health care services to detained migrants and asylum seekers, ensuring adequate interpretation services, as well as specialized support to vulnerable individuals, such as victims of torture;
• Ensure the presence of support staff to cover the daily needs of detained migrants and asylum seekers, instead of leaving this to the police;
• Establish a screening system for the identification of vulnerable groups and individuals, such as unaccompanied minors, trafficking victims;
• Avoid the detention of vulnerable groups: women in advanced pregnancy and nursing mothers, children, chronic patients, persons with disabilities and victims of torture or trafficking;
• Refrain from the systematic detention of unaccompanied minors and guarantee their protection during the period of their stay in Greece;
• Ensure that staff in detention centers is aware of and respect the rights of detained migrants and asylum seekers.