Author
The law provides that reception centre operators are responsible for providing information to asylum seekers on: (a) their rights and obligations in the centre; (b) the asylum procedure; (c) health; and (d) social rights.[1]
The provision of information for asylum seekers accommodated in CADA about the modalities of their reception is governed by the Circular of 2019 on the missions of CADA centres[2]and HUDA centres.[3] Upon admission in the centres, the manager has to deliver to the asylum seeker any useful information on the conditions of his or her stay in the centre, in a language that he or she understands and in the form of a welcome booklet. These modalities can vary in practice from one centre to the other. In any case, core information about procedural rights during the asylum procedure is shared with accommodated asylum seekers on a regular basis and upon request if necessary. Each centre also has its own information procedures. Generally, in centres managed by Forum réfugiés – Cosi for instance, the asylum seeker is informed about these legal reception provisions through the residence contract and operating rules he or she signs upon entry in the reception centre. On this occasion, an information booklet on the right to health is handed over to the asylum seeker. As some asylum seekers do not have easy access to written information, collective information sessions through activities are also organised in some reception centres (e.g. those managed by Forum réfugiés – Cosi).
In the context of COVID-19, some information documents on sanitary and health measures has been translated for migrants at the initiative of the authorities, NGOs or UNHCR through the information site “Refugies.info”. Most of the information was thus available to asylum seekers and refugees during the pandemic.
[1] Article R.744-6-1 Ceseda, inserted by Article 18 Decree n. 2018-1159 of 14 December 2018.
[2] Arrêté du 19 juin 2019 sur le cahier des charges CADA, available in French at:https://bit.ly/3aWbLRH.
[3] Arrêté du 19 juin 2019 sur le cahier des charges HUDA, available in French at:https://bit.ly/2uNOQHM.