E/CN.4/2003/85
page 22
(m)
Ensuring the presence in holding centres of a doctor with appropriate training in
psychological treatments. Migrants should have the possibility of being assisted by interpreters
in their contacts with doctors or when requesting medical attention. Detention of migrants with
psychological problems, as well as those belonging to vulnerable categories and in need of
special assistance, should be only allowed as a measure of last resort, and they should be
provided with adequate medical and psychological assistance;
(n)
Applying the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners to migrants
under administrative detention, including providing for the separation of administrative detainees
from criminal detainees; the separation of women from men; a separate bed with clean bedding
for each detainee; at least one hour of outdoor exercise daily and the right to communicate with
relatives and friends and to have access to newspapers, books and religious advisers.
76.
The Special Rapporteur would like to encourage Governments to ensure that their
consular and embassy personnel are adequately trained in providing assistance to nationals in
distress, including irregular migrants, and that there is a mechanism to address cases of
negligence in providing such assistance. The Special Rapporteur would also like to underline
that such assistance should be provided by representatives of all relevant government ministries
and departments, as well as specialized medical, social and psychological personnel, at least in
those countries with a high migration rate.
77.
The Special Rapporteur notes that national and international NGOs have started to devote
increased attention to the situation of migrants deprived of their liberty and would like to
encourage them to continue in their efforts to document and study the violations and abuses that
migrants suffer in the context of detention.
78.
The Special Rapporteur would like to encourage the organizations of civil society to
develop programmes of assistance to migrants deprived of their liberty, including legal aid,
translation services and social and psychological assistance, and to visit regularly migrant
holding centres and penitentiaries where irregular migrants are held.
79.
The Special Rapporteur would finally like to encourage international and regional
dialogue, with the participation of relevant international and regional organizations and
representatives of the civil society, on international cooperation and arrangements for the
establishment of migration management systems able to address the phenomenon of irregular
migration in a way that respects the human rights and dignity of migrants. In this connection, the
Special Rapporteur would like to encourage IOM to pursue international consultations among its
member States and other relevant actors, including United Nations agencies and the civil society.