Observations from UNHCR on Estonian law proposal on extending the provisions for detention of asylum-seekers

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has submitted our observations to the Estonian government’s law proposal amending several laws related to immigration and law enforcement.

If implemented, the proposal will allow Estonia to derogate from the obligation to only detain migrants in a specialized detention facility in emergency situations. The proposal will also apply to asylum-seekers.

UNHCR underlines that under international law, the use of detention should remain the exception rather than the rule, and that there are other alternatives to addressing reception capacity issues in case of large numbers of arrivals.

The full observations are available here.