february 23/02/2012
The Liberal Party has challenged the Minister Grete Faremo on the issue of personal information in return the agreement with Ethiopia. – The Minister must ensure that returned refugees are not subjected to human rights violations. I fear that this is not sufficiently secured in the agreement that exists, says Trine Skei Grande.
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Photo: Tormod Rossavik - What is the reason why the caveat of personal information relating to the asylum application is not included in the return agreement with Ethiopia, as in agreements with other countries, and in what ways will the Minister ensure that the returned refugees to Ethiopia are not subjected to human rights violations such as arbitrary imprisonment, murder and torture? asked Trine Skei Grande. Extensive human rights abuses Norway has negotiated a return agreement with Ethiopia that allow for the return of refugees. It is opened to the forced return of those who do not leave voluntarily from 15 March this year.
- Ethiopia, according to Amnesty International’s report from 2011, a country that is responsible for extensive human rights violations against people who are in opposition to the current regime. It is reported both on arbitrary detention, murder and torture. The country has had a negative democratic development in recent years which increases my concern for the legal rights of Ethiopian refugees who now risk being sent back, said Skei Grande. Refugee Convention commits In return, the agreements between Norway and Afghanistan in 2005 and between Norway and Iraq from 2009, the exchange of information on the returned set out in almost identical phrases. In these agreements, states that “relevant information, except specific personal information related to the content of asylum claims, will be shared Between the Parties.” In the agreement signed on 26 January between Ethiopia and Norway according to article 3, paragraph 4 that “The Norwegian side Shall Provide the Ethiopian side with as much information as Possible with regard to the Returnee”.
Refugee Convention commits the Norwegian authorities not to disclose sensitive personal information to the country as long as an asylum application is pending. After the refusal of protection based commit Administration continues to Norwegian authorities, according to general confidentiality in § 13 of the sensitive personal information. Faremo has responded that the information in question is non-sensitive. – But she gives no answer to why the text with Ethiopia is different than in agreements with other countries, said Skei Grande.
