The right to information of civil society and the press in detention centres for migrants violated

On April 17, 2012

As part of the campaign "Open Access: Open the doors! We have the right to know " [1], Migreurop, European Alternatives and Reporters without Borders have asked authorizations to visit detention centres for migrants from March 26 to April 26, 2012. In order to make an inventory of access of civil society and media to detention centers, many journalists, associations and groups of citizens have addressed requests of authorizations for visits to the competent authorities in their region.

The initial responses of the administrative authorities stress many refusals that now tend to accumulate. The situation of access is very problematic:

In France, access to administrative detention centers (CRA) in Mesnil-Amelot, Palaiseau, Vincennes, Rennes, Toulouse and Strasbourg Cornebarrieu and waiting area at Roissy was systematically denied to journalists even when they accompanied a member of parliament (MPs and Senators enjoy an unconditional right of access). For other centres (as Cergy), applications are still unanswered. In Belgium, the Belgian authorities refused the request made by the League of Human Rights to visit the detention center of Bruges with five journalists. In Italy, the request to visit several local players to visit the detention centre for migrants (CIE) of Milan was rejected, as did the defense lawyers of detainees accused of being behind riots who broke out last January [2]. In the case of Spain, it is silence: there is no answer.

In addition of not allowing members of civil society to enter the detention centres for migrants, the authorities rarely expose the motives of such refusal. To deny access to journalists, officials of the closed the center of Bruges referred to Article 40 of the Royal Decree of 2 August 2002 that "residents can not be exposed to public curiosity." However, the second paragraph of that article states that "they can not be exposed without their consent to the questions of journalists [...] or filmed." Therefore, if detainees consent, journalists should be able to interview them. For centres of Vincennes and Palaiseau it was the "election period" and "reserve duty" that served as pretexts to make the visit impossible! Finally, it was the "risk of revolt" that justified the refusal opposed to the visit of the CIE in Milan via Corelli. For other requests, refusals are not motivated. It is indicated only that "Your request cannot be granted".

Invisible, inaccessible, impenetrable, how can one explain the determination of making these places to become "non places"? What is there to hide? In March 2012, a detainee set fire to his room and tried to commit suicide in the centre of Palaiseau [3]. While tensions and the number of dramas are increasing, access is becoming more difficult. This opacity that may give space to excesses and abuses against detainees is a violation of the right to information.

Under European law, the legality of such refusal is questionable. Access to information is an inalienable right of European citizens defended by all European institutions. Section 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights refers to "the freedom to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority". These principles must be respected.
Detention centre for migrants are marked by numerous violations of human rights [4] . To publicize the reality of conditions of detention of migrants in these facilities, we require open access for civil society and the press. We have the right to know what happens there.

Press Contacts: openaccess@euroalter.com - laure.blondel@anafe.org 01 43 67 27 52

Signatory organizations:
Alternatives Européennes
Migreurop
Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF)

Signatory journalists:
Camille Polloni (Les Inrockuptibles),
Carine Fouteau (Mediapart),
Claire Pêcheux (Blog Amnesty - Belgium),
Isabelle Romero (Radio France Internationale - Accents d’Europe),
Marie Barbier (L’Humanité),
Anja VOGEL (Radio France),
Clarisse Lucas (journalist),
François Lepage (independent photographer)