The objective was to assess the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty under immigration legislation. To this end, the delegation visited five immigration detention centres and the detention zone at Brussels airport.
In the course of the visit, the delegation held consultations with Anneleen Van Bossuyt, Minister for Asylum and Migration, Social Integration and Major Cities, together with officials from the Immigration Office and the Ministry of the Interior. It also met with Koen Dewulf, Director of Myria, Myria staff members and a representative of the Federal Institute for the protection and promotion of Human Rights (IFDH/FIRM) in their capacity as National Preventive Mechanism, as well as with representatives of non-governmental organisations.
The delegation was composed of Kristina Pardalos (Head of delegation), Vanessa Durich Moulet, and Vassilis Tzevelekos, members of the Committee, Julien Attuil-Kayser and Matthieu Birker of the CPT Secretariat and an expert, Teresa Salamone, doctor (Switzerland).
At the end of the visit, the delegation shared its preliminary observations with the Belgian authorities.
The report following this visit is expected to be adopted by the CPT in March 2027 and subsequently communicated to the Belgian authorities with recommendations aimed at improving the situation of persons deprived of their liberty in the migration context.
The delegation visited the following establishments where foreign nationals were being held:
Immigration detention centres
- Repatriation centre 127bis
- Transit centre Caricole
- Holsbeek Detention centre
- Merksplas Detention centre
- Vottem Detention centre
Airport waiting areas
- Detention zone at Brussels-National Airport
