In a letter to members of the French National Assembly published today, Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks expresses concern at the risk of violations of the rights of migrants, including asylum seekers, if the provisions of the draft law for managed immigration and an effective right to asylum are passed as they stand.
While welcoming a number of measures securing the right of residence of refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, the Commissioner is concerned about the proposal to reduce the deadline for submitting asylum applications to 90 days. Given the many obstacles faced by asylum seekers when they arrive in the country, this deadline may be difficult to comply with. He also considers that the processing under an accelerated procedure of asylum applications filed after the expiry of the proposed deadline will not take into account the vulnerability of asylum seekers and the complexity of their cases.