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CoE calls for "firewall" between social services, immigration

Xinhua, May 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Social services providers must be prohibited from sharing personal data on migrants with immigration authorities, the Council of Europe (CoE) said Tuesday in Strasbourg.

Through its anti-discrimination body, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the CoE launched a set of policy recommendations to European governments, aimed at preventing the denial of human rights, particularly to "irregularly present migrants", those who do not meet national laws for entry or stay in a CoE member state.

"All migrants, including those who are 'irregularly present', have fundamental human rights which must be guaranteed in law and practice, without discrimination, while these people are within the jurisdiction of (CoE) member states," said Council Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland.

"People should be treated as human beings regardless of their legal status," added Jagland.

The recommendations outline ways to ensure that rights are respected in areas such as education, health care, housing, social security and assistance, labor protection and justice.

"States must create clear 'firewalls' to separate the work of social services providers from immigration control and enforcement activities," he added.

"Situations where, for instance, doctors are obliged to report on suspected irregular migrants should not result in a denial of their rights to healthcare," Jagland stressed.

ECRI chair Christian Ahlund warned against encouraging intolerance and racism through criminalizing social and humanitarian assistance to irregular migrants.

"It is highly counterproductive to the delivery of human rights to establish an 'offence of solidarity', and it discourages irregular migrants from seeking out services, including urgent medical care," Ahlund stated.

The ECRI called on states to comply with their specific obligations in relation to irregularly present migrant children and guarantee them access to education, immunization, pediatric care and adequate shelter. Endit