Author
The Asylum Act provides for the right of asylum applicants to be immediately informed about their rights and duties related to reception conditions.[1] It also foresees that they must be informed about the organisations that can provide assistance and information regarding available reception conditions, including medical assistance.[2] Furthermore, AIMA is required to provide asylum applicants with an information leaflet, without prejudice to providing the information contained therein orally.[3] In both cases the information must be provided in a language that the asylum applicant either understands, or is reasonably expected to understand.
In practice, upon registration, asylum applicants receive an information leaflet from AIMA, informing them of their rights and duties during the asylum procedure and the provision of reception conditions. According to AIMA, the leaflet is available in several languages but it did not specify which ones. In CPR’s experience, the leaflet is distributed to asylum applicants and it is available at least in Portuguese, English, French, Russian and Arabic. The information contained however is brief and not considered user-friendly, particularly in the case of unaccompanied children.
CPR’s liaison officers present at AIMA until the end of January 2024 used to develop efforts to explain the content of the documents handled to applicants, especially when they were not able to read.
AIMA asserted that upon registration applicants receive information on their rights and duties and may request clarifications. AIMA also reported that if the information is not available in the applicant’s main language, interpretation is provided.[4]
Furthermore, CPR is not aware of the provision of tailored leaflets or information to specific groups by AIMA.
In accordance with existing MoUs with the authorities (see Responsibility for Reception), CPR provides information to asylum applicants throughout the asylum procedure and particularly during admissibility (including Dublin) and accelerated procedures. This is done through individual interviews as well as through social and legal support. The information provided by CPR broadly covers the information requirements provided in the law as regards the institutional framework of reception, including on the dispersal policy, as well as the types and levels of material reception conditions, access to health care, education, employment, etc. Information leaflets regarding CPR’s support are also distributed.
The information provided by CPR further includes the provision of tailor-made information to unaccompanied children upon their admission to CACR orally and using supporting materials such as a leaflet that contains child-friendly information on internal rules, available services, geographical location, general security tips and contacts, etc. (available in Portuguese, English, Russian, Tigrinya and French). CACR is preparing to have these materials available in audio format in the languages most commonly used by child applicants.
According to AIMA, upon reception applicants are informed by the host entities of their rights and duties, features and rules of the reception system, and available services.
During the regular procedure and at appeal stage, asylum applicants should benefit from individual follow-up with ISS and SCML. While no research has been conducted to date to assess the impact of the dispersal policy, CPR is not aware of any serious challenges in accessing social services or in the provision of information regarding reception conditions during this stage of the asylum procedure despite some complaints regarding difficulties in securing an appointment/effective contact, accessing specific services, and language barriers.
According to the available information, other services remain residual, non-specialised and mostly focused on integration.
[1] Article 49(1)(a) Asylum Act.
[2] Article 49(1)(a)(iv) Asylum Act.
[3] Article 49(2) Asylum Act.
[4] Information provided by AIMA on 25 June 2024.