Human rights body protests protracted detention of illegal immigrants in Zambia

Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 18:38:47|Editor: zh
Video PlayerClose

LUSAKA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's official human rights body on Monday expressed concern over the inordinately long detention of illegal immigrants and foreigners convicted of crime, calling it a human rights violation.

"The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs should make resources available to the Immigration Department for removing or deportation of prohibited immigrants or foreign nationals who have served their sentences in Zambia, as the case maybe," Mudford Mwandenga, chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, said during the release of the results of an investigation the panel conducted on detention and correctional facilities from August 2017 to early August 2018.

The commission visited select correctional facilities to assess levels of compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules, which are the United Nations minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners.

The investigations focused on difficulties in accessing bail, maladministration of justice for detainees, deportation and removal orders for foreign nationals in dentition facilities, delayed consent by prosecution and delayed judgments.

The commission found 27 cases of delayed deportation and removal of foreigners from detention.

Mwandenga said over 1,000 cases of human rights violations were identified, out of which nearly half were successfully resolved after the commission's intervention.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020071430000000000000011100001373897441