Human Rights Council
Eleventh Session
Resolution 11/9. The human rights of migrants in detention centres
The Human Rights Council,
Recalling previous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human
Rights and the Council on the protection of the human rights of migrants and the work of various
special mechanisms of the Council that have reported on the situation of human rights and
fundamental freedoms of migrants, particularly those held in detention centres,
Aware of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
(A/HRC/11/7), which focuses on the protection of children in the context of migration,
Aware also of the report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (A/HRC/7/4),
Emphasizing the importance of addressing the situation of migrants in detention centres
and in administrative detention, which creates conditions for the potential violation of their
human rights, through a comprehensive, integrated, concerted and balanced approach,
1.
Decides to hold a panel discussion on the matter at its twelfth session, with equitable
geographic and gender participation of Governments, relevant experts and representatives of
civil society, including national institutions;
2.
Invites the members of the above-mentioned panel:
(a) To discuss the current trends, good practices, challenges and possible approaches to
address the issue of the detention of migrants and to explore ways to promote and protect their
human rights;
(b) To elaborate on how to reduce the recourse to and duration of detention of persons
who enter or remain in a country in an irregular manner, as well as on how to provide them with
appropriate access to due legal process;
3.
Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to
provide the necessary assistance and support for holding the panel.
29th meeting
18 June 2009
[Adopted without a vote.]
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