Areas of Work

Home breadcrumb spacer Press Room breadcrumb spacer

Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children Supports New UN SR Report on U.S. Immigration Dete

posted: March 6, 2008

New York, NY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dr. Jorge Bustamante, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, today presented his long-awaited report on his official visit to the U.S. between April 30 and May 18, 2007. The report, presented at the 7th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, mirrored serious concerns previously voiced by the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children about current immigration detention policies. These include the need for vastly-improved conditions in U.S. detention centers and the fundamental right to legal counsel for detainees. Dr. Bustamante also recommended sweeping changes including the elimination of mandatory detention for those not considered a danger to national security, as well as for immigrant women who are survivors of violence or persecution, or are pregnant and nursing their infants.

"Dr. Bustamante's report is sure to shed much-needed light on the distressing conditions for women and children in U.S. detention centers," said Michelle Brané, director of the Women's Commission's detention and asylum program. "Americans are paying closer attention to the treatment of immigrants and refugees within our borders. As this report emphasizes—and as the Women's Commission has repeatedly declared—critical improvements must be made at the centers and serious consideration needs to be given to alternatives to mandatory confinement, which not only breaks apart families but is at odds with our international obligation to protect the human rights of immigrants and refugees."

To schedule an interview with Ms. Brané, please contact Theresa Pantazopoulos, ph 212.551.2964, cell 917.701.7991,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Women's Commission was established in 1989 to address the particular needs of refugee and displaced women, children and youth.
www.womenscommission.org