ISSJ Social Worker, Junko Hosoi

From November 11th to 18th, 2007, I have been to Rome and Lampedusa for the survey sponsored by Foundation for the Welfare and Education of the Asian People, Refugee Assistance Headquarters. The survey team consisted of 4 members, i.e. one member each from Refugee Assistance Headquarters, Amnesty International-Japan, ISSJ and an interpreter, and visited 14 places including Department of the Interior, other public offices and NGO's. I would like to report on "procedures for accreditation of refugees" in Italy and the institution of asylum seekers in Lampedusa. I would like you to be informed that the further details of this survey will be obtainable from the survey report to be issued.

While most of foreign visitors to Japan are coming into the country by air, the foreign visitors to Italy are coming into the country not only by air but also by land and sea routes. 50 - 60% of total asylum seekers came into the country by sea route in 2006. Regarding the procedures for accreditation of refugees, the local police first enforce the formality examination to asylum seekers. Those who can identify themselves proceed to normal procedures (legal immigration 20%) and those who cannot identify themselves proceed to summary procedures (illegal immigration 80%). The former can be qualified to receive the support by "Protection System for Asylum Seekers and Refugees (SPRAR)". The latter in case of "summary procedures" steps forward to the next process through "Primary Stay Center (CPA)" (primary stay is within 20 days after the application).

The institution we visited this time in Lampedusa Island was CPA. Those who do not apply for asylum are to be exiled after temporary stay of 50 - 60 days at "Temporary Stay Center (CPT)". They will be able to obtain the permission of landing if they are approved by "the application after deportation edict". After the immigration, those who seek for refugee status will receive examination and judgment (refugee status, humanitarian protect, rejection of applications for refugee status). The local committee has 2 groups (1 group, 4 members each) in 7 areas in the country, and the committees consist of (1) Chairman' representative from Department of the Interior (2) Top commander (3) Local government representative (4) Representative from UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Those who were accepted by "Refugee status" or "Humanitarian protect" are permitted to land. Also, there are people whose refugee status is rejected by the local committee but later receive the permission of landing by raising objections.

click image to enlarge

Those who are authorized to land will benefit the support through SPRAR network, and the number of those people is expected to be about 7,000 in 2007, which will mark 50% of the total. The people of the remaining 50% are becoming homeless people on the street like Afghan refugees. SPRAR is a proper authority of Ministry of the Interior and taking charge of monitoring. The network of SPRAR runs with proactive actions of public organizations, and local organizations voluntarily join there. The business routine under SPRAR is managed by each city through ANCI (civil organization). The yearly budget of SPRAR is contributed by National Treasury (22 million EUR), by European Refugees Fund (2 million EUR) and by Special Fund (8.5 million EUR).

At the port of Lampedusa Island with UNHCR employee.

Next, I would like to talk about Lampedusa Island. This is an island in the Pelagie Islands of the Mediterranean in Italy. The length of the island is 9km, and the width 1.5km. Since it is located at 113km from the coast of Tunisia, a large number of the boatpeople come to this island from Libya. Counting just for this year, 11,700 boatpeople have already arrived of which number is twice bigger than the habitants there. They are from Eritrea, Ivory Coast, Togo, Ethiopia, Sudan, etc in Africa who are coming in by boat via Libya. It took from 1 day and half to 2 days in the shortest amount of time and maximum 19 days in the past. In fact, there were not many boats that won to shore by themselves. The coast guards headquarters are doing lifesaving mission on the sea. There was a case in 2005 that they rescued a boat of 20meters long that was carrying 475 people. In the island, Tax and Customs Police are controlling over smuggling and also working to find out and rescue illegal immigrants and checking those people's background.

In this island, there is an institution called CSPA that is to rescue and temporarily institutionalize people of whom one-fourth are applying for asylum. Arriving at the institution from the port, they get frisked and undergo medical examination and receive personal inquiries. Then, fingerprints of palms and 10 fingers and pictures of their faces are taken to record in the database common over whole Europe. Those who crosscheck with this database will be able to find out target people's histories (for instance, entry into the country in the past and criminal record). If a target person has any criminal record, he will be caught on the spot, and the national police play the role of judicial police.

The arrow points the Lampedusa Island

Those who are admitted to the institution will be assigned with a room and a set of living-ware, called KIT, will be supplied to them. Near to the entrance of this institution that belongs to Ministry of the Interior, the offices of UNHCR, Red Cross and International Organization for Migration (IOM) are located and their expenses are borne by Ministry of the Interior, and their operation is outsourced to civilian organizations. In the nature of the institution, detainees there can stay for the short period of time. It was an unbelievable scene that some young detainees were enjoying football with the staff of institution. And those detainees who were playing football left there the very next day. Through the arrangement of local UNHCR staff, we could see them off leaving for Sicily by boat from the quay. Looking at their carefree laughing faces and waving hands, I felt hollowed out to think of their lives lying in the future. One of UNHCR staff members murmured, "What I can do�c almost nothing", which was the words of strong impact for me.

We received warm receptions at every place by such people as from high government officials to volunteers. I have great appreciation for their willingness to accept even overtime interviews for us. When I came back home, I had a good surprise to find, on the Website of Ministry of the Interior of Italy, that the event "Delegation for Survey from Japan" was introduced. I would like to express my gratitude full-heartedly to all people home and abroad who helped and supported our survey trip.