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[29/05/07 11:30] Following an official human rights assessment visit to Austria, Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg told a press conference in Vienna that the Austrian Government would need to improve the treatment of asylum seekers and migrants.

In particular, he said the length of asylum procedures should be cut down, and the use of pre-deportation detention should be reduced. In relation to the Government's policy on immigration, the Commissioner said the quotas for family reunification should be reviewed.

Mr. Hammarberg also pointed out that the Government should prevent the occurrence of ill-treatment by the police through increased human rights training and the use of a more representative recruitment system.

The Commissioner's full report on Austria will be made public in autumn 2007.

During his visit, the Commissioner met government representatives on the federal, regional and municipal level. On the federal level, he met with Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, Minister for European and International Affairs Ursula Plassnik, Minister of Interior Günther Platter, Minister of Justice Maria Berger, and Minister for Women's Affairs Doris Bures.

Mr Hammarberg also held discussions with the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, the President of the Constitutional court, the Chair of the Independent Federal Asylum Review Board, as well as ombudspersons and other representatives of human rights protection structures and complaints bodies. Discussions were also scheduled with the governors of the provinces (Länder) of Vienna and Styria, and with the Mayor of Graz, and several other senior interlocutors.

As part of his programme, the Commissioner met with leading representatives of civil society, and visited reception, accommodation and pre-deportation centres for asylum-seekers, a prison, a sheltered employment workshop for persons with disabilities, and a shelter for women victims of violence.

 

See also

Human Rights Commissioner to make official visit to Austria (press release, 18/05/07)

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