Stuck in Jail Immigration Detention in Hungary (2010)

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) visited 9 new, temporary immigration jails in August 2010. Altogether 8 staff members participated in the monitoring visits, which were carried out in teams of 3 or 4 people, always led by a senior staff member with long-standing experience in monitoring detention facilities.

The commander of the new immigration jail in Kiskunhalas denied access to the facility with reference to an arson attack that took place 2 days before the HHC’s visit and due to which all detainees had to be transferred to other detention centres.

All monitoring missions applied a single methodology and questionnaire, based on the relevant domestic regulation, the standards established by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the long-standing practical experiences of the HHC. The monitoring teams primarily looked into the following issues:

• general information (capacity, composition of detainee population, circumstances of the opening of the jail, etc.);
• general physical conditions (space, light, etc.);
• movement within the facility;
• access to fresh air and outdoor activities;
• hygienic conditions;
• nutrition;
• medical attention;
• psycho-social care;
• the treatment of vulnerable detainees;
• daily routine;
• communication with the outside world (telephone, correspondence, etc.);
• the occurrence of violent acts, self-harm and other “extraordinary events”;
• potential cases of unlawful detention.

While the report covers immigration detention of asylum-seekers in general, specific chapter and recommendation refers to unaccompanied minors.