Comments_of_the_UNHCR_with_the_report_of_Amnesty_International_on_Cyprus_-_english.pdf
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Transcript of Comments_of_the_UNHCR_with_the_report_of_Amnesty_International_on_Cyprus_-_english.pdf
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UNHCR's comments on new report on Cyprus by Amnesty International
The administrative detention of asylum-seekers as presented in the new Amnesty International report on Cyprus, published yesterday, has been of concern to UNHCR and requires immediate resolution.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/news/cyprus-abusive-detention-migrants-and-asylum-seekers-flouts-eu-law-2014-03-18
UNHCR's position is that seeking asylum is not an unlawful act and, as such, the detention of asylum-seekers on account of their unauthorized entry or presence in the country of asylum should in principle be avoided and used only in exceptional circumstances.
Detention may only be resorted to where it has been determined on a case-by-case basis that it is necessary, reasonable and proportionate to the legitimate objective, and alternatives to detention need to be considered first in each case.
Having fled violence and mistreatment in their country of origin, and experienced loss of
family as well as traumatic events during flight, asylum-seekers may suffer from trauma, depression and other physical or psychological consequences, which detention has been shown to aggravate. Asylum-seekers and refugees are therefore a potentially vulnerable population, and they are in need of understanding, support and fair treatment, not detention.
