V. The right to challenge the legality of detention
28.
The Basic Principles and Guidelines on Remedies and Procedures on the Right of
Anyone Deprived of Their Liberty to Bring Proceedings Before a Court33 applies to all nonnationals, including immigrants regardless of their status, asylum seekers, refugees and
stateless persons, in any situation of deprivation of liberty.34
29.
The right of anyone deprived of his or her liberty to bring proceedings before a court
in order that it may decide without delay on the lawfulness of his or her detention and obtain
appropriate remedies upon a successful challenge, is a self-standing human right, the absence
of which constitutes a human rights violation.35 This right applies to everyone, including
immigrants regardless of their migration status, refugees and asylum seekers and stateless
persons.36
30.
Any detention in the course of migration proceedings that makes it impossible to
mount an effective challenge to the continued detention is arbitrary.37
VI. Respect for rights during detention in the course of migration
proceedings
31.
Those detained in the course of migration proceedings enjoy the same rights as those
detained in the criminal justice or other administrative context, including the rights enshrined
in the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or
Imprisonment.
32.
Those detained in the course of migration proceedings must be treated without
discrimination based on race, colour, sex, property, birth, age, national, ethnic or social
origin, language, religion, economic condition, political or other opinion, sexual orientation
or gender identity, disability, nationality or any other status, or on any ground that aims at or
may result in undermining the enjoyment of human rights on the basis of equality.
33.
Those detained in the course of migration proceedings have the right to be informed,
in writing and in a language which they understand, of the nature of and grounds for the
decision to detain, the duration of detention, as well as of the possibility to challenge the
legality and arbitrariness of such decision.38
34.
All those detained in the course of migration proceedings must be properly informed
of their right to seek asylum and be able to file an asylum application.39
35.
All detained migrants must have access to legal representation and advice and
interpreters, including with the view to challenging the detention order, appealing deportation
decisions or preventing cases of refoulement. If necessary, access to free and effective legal
aid should be ensured.40
33
A/HRC/30/37.
Ibid., para. 8.
35 Ibid., para. 2.
36
Ibid., para. 8.
37
See, for example, opinions No. 42/2017 and No. 28/2017. See also C. v. Australia
(CCPR/C/76/D/900/1999); Baban et al. v. Australia (CCPR/C/78/D/1014/2001); Shafiq v. Australia
(CCPR/C/88/D/1324/2004); Shams et al. v. Australia (CCPR/C/90/D/1255, 1256, 1259, 1260, 1266,
1268, 1270 & 1288/2004); Bakhtiyari v. Australia (CCPR/C/79/D/1069/2002); D. and E. and their
two children v. Australia (CCPR/C/87/D/1050/2002); Nasir v. Australia (CCPR/C/116/D/2229/2012);
and F.J. et al. v. Australia (CCPR/C/116/D/2233/2013).
38
See A/HRC/30/37, para. 42. See also E/CN.4/1999/63/Add.3, paras. 27-28; E/CN.4/1999/63/Add.4,
paras. 49-50; A/HRC/27/48/Add.2, para. 118 (d) (i) and 119 (b); and A/HRC/10/21/Add.5, para. 76.
39 See, for example, A/HRC/27/48/Add.2, para. 133; A/HRC/30/36/Add.3, para. 80; and
A/HRC/10/21/Add.5, para. 76.
40 See, for example, A/HRC/27/48/Add.2, para. 129; A/HRC/30/36/Add.1, para. 90; and
A/HRC/33/50/Add.1, paras. 51-54.
34
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