Contemporary Migrant Health Experience and Unique Health Care Needs in European Prisons and Immigration Detention Settings

Abstract

Coinciding with mass population movement of migrants into Europe, populations of those incarcerated and detained in prisons and immigration detention settings have diversified significantly. A scoping review mapped and described extant literature on migrant health experience and unique support needs in these settings. Fifteen records fulfilled inclusion criteria and indicated that migrants are generally in good health on intake/committal, but have complex mental health needs and are particularly vulnerable to environmental and communication stressors in closed settings. Whilst the review underscores the need for operationalisation of culturally sensitive health and wellbeing supports for migrants in prisons and immigration detention settings, it is recommended that States reduce their reliance on detention.

# Me Too: Global Progress in Tackling Continued Custodial Violence Against Women: The 10-Year Anniversary of the Bangkok Rules

“…The UN CEDAW reports on conditions and potential risks for exposure to violence experienced by refugee, migrant and asylum seeking women held in Greek reception centers (CEDAW, 2013b). Two 2020 regional European reviews reveal GBVAW in immigration detention settings (Lungu Byrne et al, 2020; Van Hout et al, 2020), with sources from Spanish prisons and Swedish/UK pre-removal settings referring to the denial of medical and mental health care; verbal abuse, random checks by male guards and lack of privacy reported by women (Arshad et al, 2018; Puthoopparambil et al, 2015; Ruiz-Garcia & Castillo-Algarra, 2014; Smith, 2017). The 2015 Report of the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice on Spain refers to the situation of women in prison (UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Discrimination Against Women in Law and in Practice, 2015).…”

Human rights violations, detention conditions and the invisible nature of women in European immigration detention: a legal realist account

“…The Strategy and Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health in the World Health Organization European Region was adopted in 2016 to assist in guiding progress on the health aspects of migrancy (WHO, 2018). There is a growing European evidence base on the health of migrants, the health inequities and healthcare barriers they face in the community (Lebano et al, 2020) and in immigration detention (Lungu-Byrne et al, 2020;Van Hout et al, 2020).…”

“…The Strategy and Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health in the World Health Organization European Region was adopted in 2016 to assist in guiding progress on the health aspects of migrancy [World Health Organization (WHO), 2018]. There is a growing European evidence base on the health of migrants, the health inequities and health-care barriers they face in the community (Lebano et al , 2020) and in immigration detention (Lungu-Byrne et al , 2020; Van Hout et al , 2020). Migrant health is highly complex being underpinned by the impact of the migratory process itself and social determinants of health, resulting in a range of health morbidities (Rechel et al , 2013; Pavli and Maltezou, 2017; WHO, 2018).…”

“…Migrant health rights are intertwined with “the right not to be subjected to arbitrary deprivation of liberty,” right to detention “in conditions compatible with respect for human dignity, with execution of the measure not exceeding unavoidable levels of suffering inherent in detention” and right to access to medical assistance [Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights, 2015; Council of Europe European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), 2017]. Inhumane immigration detention exacerbates general good health on intake, with those detained significantly vulnerable to environmental and communication stressors, and consequent mental health conditions (Lungu-Byrne et al , 2020; Van Hout et al , 2020). Gender discrimination experienced by women in immigration detention encompasses neglect and ill-treatment and includes various forms of custodial violence (SGBV, inappropriate surveillance by male staff, lack of privacy and denial of appropriate medical care) [Penal Reform International (PRI), 2020a, 2020b; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2008; United Nations Human Rights Council (OHCHR), 2008; UN Committee Against Torture (CAT), 2015].…”

“…The UNHCR has observed poor standards in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, France and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, with specific concerns raised around punitive and sub-standard conditions, potentially tantamount to inhuman and degrading treatment, and especially detrimental to women and their children [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 2017]. Differences also exist across EU Member States in providing health services and support responses to those detained (Human Rights Council, 2010; Lungu-Byrne et al , 2020). In spite of the influx of mass population movement into Europe since 2015, there is very little empirical research specific to women in immigration detention since adoption of the “Bangkok Rules.” This is perhaps reflective of the difficulties in gaining researcher access, and the male dominated presence in immigration detention itself.…”