Amicus curiae to the European Court of Human Rights in cases of detention of migrants in Lampedusa Hotspots

Working Group Migration and Torture

Submission by the World Organisation Against Torture in the cases:

1. Amicus Curiae JA & others vs Italy
2. Amicus Curiae MB & others vs Italy
3. Amicus Curiae PETOFIA & Nkontchoua vs Italy

This intervention is submitted on behalf of the OMCT by its Working group on Migration and Torture. The Working group has met with migrants that have been hosted in the Lampedusa Hotspots and have documented testimonies on detention conditions.

This intervention also draws on the privileged position of the OMCT, as the main coordinator of civil society organisations (CSOs) engaging with the UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT). The views expressed are therefore based on a review of successive reports from States parties and CSOs alternative reports, the examination of individual communications, and monitoring of developments before the Committee. Our knowledge of the UNCAT jurisprudence and Concluding Observations put us in a position to share with the European Court of Human Rights the recent updates, discussions and reports shared by CSOs on the Hotspots approach in receiving and identifying migrants in Europe.

Members of the Working group:

DIEYE Aminata (Chairperson) Organisation mondiale contre la torture (OMCT)

OYAMTA BALDAL Ligue Tchadienne des Droits de l’Homme (réseau) /Tchad

ALAA TALBI Forum Tunisien pour les Droits Économiques et Sociaux (FTDES) /Tunisie

MWANGI KEVIN Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) /Kenya

ESTHER NABWIRE African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims / Uganda

ELMEHDI AG WAKINA Association Malienne pour la Survie au Sahel (AMSS) /Mali

BADAMASSI YAHAYA Alternative Espaces Citoyens/ Niger

MOUSAPHA KEBE Réseau Migration développement (REMIDEV) / Sénégal

MOHAMMED BADAWI Africa Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) /Soudan MAITE PAREJO SOUSA Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España (APDHE)/Spain
SUSANNA MARIETTI Antigone/Italy

The SOS-Torture Migration and Torture Working in group in Africa is a group of 10 experts from the OMCT SOS-Torture Network, which aims to analyse first-hand information in order to set out authoritative research and recommendations for the protection of migrants against torture and other punishments or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The group is sponsored by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the Collectif des Associations Contre l’Impunité au Togo (CACIT).