Motion for a resolution | Doc. 12926 | 04 May 2012

Flights of shame in Europe

Signatories: Ms Tineke STRIK, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Doris BARNETT, Germany, SOC ; Mr Alexander van der BELLEN, Austria, SOC ; Ms Ankie BROEKERS-KNOL, Netherlands, ALDE ; Ms Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN, Norway, SOC ; Mr Boriss CILEVIČS, Latvia, SOC ; Mr Arcadio DÍAZ TEJERA, Spain, SOC ; Mr Şaban DİŞLİ, Turkey, EPP/CD ; Mr Tuur ELZINGA, Netherlands, UEL ; Mr Hans FRANKEN, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Mr Andreas GROSS, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Mike HANCOCK, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Mr Andrej HUNKO, Germany, UEL ; Ms Athina KYRIAKIDOU, Cyprus, SOC ; Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania, ALDE ; Ms Pirkko MATTILA, Finland, NR ; Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Johannes PFLUG, Germany, SOC ; Mr René ROUQUET, France, SOC ; Mr Indrek SAAR, Estonia, SOC ; Mr Björn von SYDOW, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Klaas de VRIES, Netherlands, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

More than 182 228 irregular migrants and failed asylum seekers were forcibly returned by flights from European airports in 2009. These returns are necessary as part of migration management. However, the treatment of returnees should be in accordance with human rights.

At the beginning of April 2012 pictures circulated on the internet showing a deportee on a commercial airline, his mouth taped shut with a surgical mask and duct tape. According to NGOs and National Prevention Mechanisms monitoring the issue, this is not an isolated incident of inhuman and degrading treatment on these flights. Other forced returnees have died including from positional asphyxia, suffocation, brain damage caused by lack of oxygen, and also combined heart failure, panic and stress.

There have been a number of warnings about the use of illegal restraint techniques, including “Carpet Karaoke” in which the detainee is forced to bend over in the seat with their head between their legs. This is prohibited because of the danger of positional asphyxia.

Until now, standardised guidelines on acceptable restraint techniques are lacking and those that exist are either insufficient or inadequately implemented. Further training is needed for those involved in the return process, whether they be guards, medical or even airline staff (in particular the captain, who has the last say if a passenger is to fly).

The Parliamentary Assembly should investigate these “flights of shame” to ensure that return flights are carried out humanely and that staff are trained, monitored and brought to account where necessary, all on the basis of standardised guidelines.