Report from Workshops of Representatives of Detention Centers in the EU
On September 20-21, the 5th Workshop pf Representatives of Detention Centers in the EU was held in Warsaw and Lesznowola. The meeting was organized by the National Contact Point of the EMN in Poland, the National Contact Point of the EMN in Luxembourg, the Polish Border Guard and the Detention Center of the Luxembourgish Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
The two-day workshop was intended for people managing Detention Centers in Europe. Nearly 50 experts from 18 countries (EU member states and Switzerland) took part in the event. Representatives of Frontex and the EMN National Contact Points of Poland and Luxembourg were present.
The first day of the workshops took place in Warsaw with the focus on the exchange of experiences in the field of broadly understood detention. The participants were welcomed by the Deputy Director of the Board for Foreigners of the Polish Border Guard Headquarters, BG Captain Dorota Skrzypczyk and Director of the Office for Foreigners, Tomasz Cytrynowicz.
During the presentation and discussion, representatives of countries discussed the most important issues regarding:
1. The needs of minors – the discussion concerned in particular the implementation of obligatory education among minors (depending on the solutions adopted in a given country) and psychological support for children. The need to ensure the best interests of minors was emphasized.
2. Procedures in connection with the occurrence of crisis situations and mechanism for increasing capacity in detention systems. An important discussion was the solutions aimed to increase the number of accommodation places in the crisis situations in the centers (primarily in the situation of a mass influx of foreigners), e.g. support for employees from other units, and adaptation of other entities infrastructure.
3. Security within the centers - also taking into account the context of aggressive behavior of foreigners staying in the Detention Centers. Most countries have similar possibilities and rules in this area. The need to properly train staff and ensure their safety was emphasized. It is important to inform foreigners and provide psychological support and health care.
4. Cooperation of Detention Centers with NGOs – participants presented areas of cooperation with non-governmental organizations, including: legal assistance, organization of activities (sports, educational) for foreigners staying in the centers.
As has been discussed, many countries have similar experiences and face similar challenges. Certain solutions are adopted depending on the specific situation in a given country (e.g. due to the scale of the influx of illegal migrants).
The second day of the workshops was organized by the Polish Border Guard at the Guarded Center for Foreigners in Lesznowola. The host of the meeting was the Commander of this Post, BG Colonel Mariusz Kiszczak. After a short presentation elucidating the functioning of the detention system in Poland, as well as the structure and activity of the Guarded Center for Foreigners in Lesznowola (located within the structure of the Nadwiślański Branch of the Border Guard), the workshops’ participants were familiarized with the specifics of the Center. The new building intended for families with children was created. The family building contains 44 living rooms, 2 ecumenical rooms, a medical block with a dental, gynecological and internal medicine office, kitchens, school and kindergarten rooms, an auditorium, a library, a scullery, storage rooms, and a fitness room. The building also has its own sports infrastructure and playgrounds.
This visit to the center and presentation of the infrastructure was an opportunity to ask practical questions regarding implemented solutions in the Polish detention system, as well to exchange experiences between practitioners from other countries about functioning of the Detention Centers.
It is worth to mention that the workshops for representatives of Detention Centers organized by the EMN are a unique event and the only forum of this type. It enables the exchange of experiences between experts managing Detention Centers, as well as establishing and deepening cooperation.
