Germany At least seven suicide attempts in detention centers in Germany

January 19, 2009

Comment: The clearly left-wing German NGO movement “Paderborn” published an article based on a German state survey of the situation in detention centers between 2005 and 2007. The article quotes that in 2007 in the State of Nordrhen Westfahlen (NRW) 86 unaccompanied minors were detained (14 of them for an average of 19.5 days).

It points out that minors – including children under 16 – are “made older” by authorities so that they can be detained, and so actual numbers may be much higher. The article clearly condemns the German authorities for detaining migrants, including minors, and also quotes that according to the survey seven “serious” suicide attempts were made – while it is unknown how the seriousness of such an act is judged by the detention centers.

The detention of migrants is in stark contrast with the European Union’s fundamental right of free movement of persons and it is alarming to see that European legislation regarding migrants goes against this human right. The Return Directive adopted by the European Parliamen t"is widely criticized by human rights organisations and the UN":http://www.tdh-childprotection.org/content/view/628/1 for the same reason. While politicians, including MEPs, speak out for a harmonisation of national migration policies, the Return directive clearly sets out the parameters for the detention of migrants – including minors.