|
From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Organization of American States (OAS)
The following is the report on the Carmichael Detention Center in Nassau, Bahamas by the Organization of the American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTION 4/2015 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE No. 535/14 Matter of persons in immigration detention at Carmichael Road Detention Center Commonwealth of the Bahamas February 13, 2015 I. INTRODUCTION 1. On December 30, 2014, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter "the Inter-American Commission", "the Commission" or "IACHR") received a request for precautionary measures submitted by the Caribbean Institute for Human Rights, the International Human Rights Clinic of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (hereinafter "the applicants"), requesting that the Commission require the Commonwealth of The Bahamas (hereinafter "The Bahamas" or "the State") to adopt measures to protect the life and physical integrity of the persons in immigration detention at Carmichael Road Detention Center, (hereinafter the detainees" or "the proposed beneficiaries"). According to the request, the proposed beneficiaries are at risk due to, inter alia, the alleged inhumane conditions of detention, extreme overcrowding and the lack of appropriate medical attention that could affect their right to life and physical integrity. 2. After analyzing the factual and legal arguments presented by the applicants, the Commission considers that the information presented demonstrates prima facie that the persons in immigration detention at Carmichael Road Detention Center appear to be in a serious and urgent situation, that places their lives and physical integrity at risk. Consequently, in accordance with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the Commission requests that The Bahamas: a) adopt the necessary measures to ensure the life and physical integrity of the persons in immigration detention at Carmichael Road Detention Center; b) provide hygienic conditions and adequate medical treatment to the persons in the facility, according to their respective medical conditions; c) adopt the necessary measures to address the special situation of the unaccompanied children, according to international standards; d) Implement measures to ensure that legal assistance is available to all of the beneficiaries, including relevant information concerning their detention and applicable legal process; e) take immediate action to substantially reduce overcrowding within Carmichael Road Detention Center; f) investigate the facts that gave rise to the adoption of these precautionary measures in order to avoid their repetition; and g) ensure that civil society organizations and relevant international organizations have access to the Carmichael Road Detention Center for the purpose of monitoring detention conditions. Read the full report attached below:
|
