Statement by NIHR Chairperson on the Infection of a Number of Female Foreign Detainees with Coronavirus
In activation of the provision of the Law on Establishment of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) on conducting announced or unannounced field visits to detention and arrest centers, Ms. Maria Khoury, Chairperson of the NIHR, stated that a delegate from the Council of Commissioners conducted a field visit in July 2020 to a shelter and deportation centre for female foreign detainees to closely examine actions taken to confront the Coronavirus pandemic and the extent to which human rights standards are adhered to in dealing with detainees. She added that the NIHR’s report at the time stated that procedures had been completed for deportation of the most of them. However this was not possible due to travel conditions that were negatively affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ms. Khoury pointed out that the NIHR’s Council of Commissioners reviewed a statement by the Ministry of Interior on the infection of a number of female detainees in the deportation centre - pending case investigations related to violations of residency conditions - with the Coronavirus, and the medical procedures taken according to Covid-19 treatment protocol, and the strengthening of precautionary measures onsite, noting that the NIHR, during its visit to the centre, recommended speeding up procedures for deporting the detainees, but this was not achieved due to the suspension of international air traffic and refusal of a number of countries to receive their citizens under the circumstances of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ms. Khoury expressed her appreciation for the decision of His Excellency the Minister of Interior to form a committee to investigate the infection of a number of female detainees in the deportation centre with the Coronavirus, which reflects the consistent approach of the Ministry of Interior in its support for human rights, and its treatment with all credibility and transparency, in addition to ensuring that female detainees receive the necessary medical care in accordance with medical protocol.
Ms. Khoury stated that the Council of Commissioners will follow-up the results of the investigation and all the measures that will be taken in this respect until the departure of all detainees, stressing at the same time that their health status is currently stable and there is no need for concern.
