Committee against Torture publishes final observations on Belgium
The UN Committee against Torture (CAT) expressed both positive and negative observations on Belgium, following the examination of the third periodic report on Belgium.
The final observations of the CAT contain many aspects of detention. Concerning asylum and migration, the following observations are mainly important:
Positive aspects:
- adoption of the Law of 12 September 2011, allowing for a temporary residence permit for unaccompanied minors (5.b.);
- adoption of the Action Plan 2012 -2014 for the fight against trafficking and trade in human beings (6.a.);
- the use of alternatives to detention for asylum seeking families with children.
Concerns
- The continued use of administrative detention for applicants of asylum in the framework of the Dublin-procedure. Applicants are systematically detained for the complete duration of the examination of the application, which can mount up to 9 months (21.). Therefore, the Committee demands that Belgium instantly acts to ensure that detention only will be a measure of last resort and for a period as short as possible and to put in place alternatives to detention.
More information
The complete CAT report can be found on the website of the UNCHR (only in French);
The third periodic report of Belgium can be found here (in English, French and Spanish);
More information on CAT can be found on the website.