Alternatives to Detention

International Detention Coalition (IDC) has documented diverse promising practices on alternatives to detention across Africa, from governments and NGOs, to generate momentum for rights-based practices. In 2017, IDC launched a research titled 'There are Alternatives : Africa' which documents promising practices in over 32 African countries. The report highlights some of the measures in place including laws, policies and practices in Africa that contribute to the effective and humane governance of migration, while avoiding the use of unnecessary immigration detention.

The European Alternatives to Detention Network (EATDN) is a group of NGOs that aims to end immigration detention in Europe. Established in 2017, it brings together civil society organisations implementing case management-based ATD (alternatives to detention) pilots in seven European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Poland and the UK) in partnership with regional-level and international organisations.

This action was submitted through the GFMD Mayors Mechanism Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees.

UNICEF's 'Children Uprooted' campaign is a broad communications campaign focusing on refugee and migrant children. As part of this campaign, UNICEF has urged governments and partners to realize a Six-Point Agenda For Action to: 

The objective of the MoU is to determine responsibilities and provide common guidelines for all related government agencies in an effort to integrate procedures on non-detention of migrant children under the age of 18.

In 2014, Mexico updated its laws, incorporating the norms of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, directly prohibiting immigration detention of children. This step forward for children and migrants rights necessitated a need to look for ways to implement alternatives to detention for immigrant children in Mexico. To do this, Mexico has established a national working group bringing together all releveant implementers - including child right authorities, CSOs, goverrnment departments, and UN Agencies. 

Upon arrival, unaccompanied minors in Germany are generally assigned to a youth welfare office that acts as a preliminary representative. The child is placed into child-specific facilities and not detained while the youth welfare office conducts a primary screening considering the best interests of the child. The child is then assigned in a regular procedure of custody to a foster/family-based care.