Human rights challenges for exit centre on island

According to the agreement on the Danish state budget for 2019 an exit centre is to be established on the island of Lindholm in Stege Bugt. Establishment of an exit centre on Lindholm raises a number of human-rights issues.

“The majority of the future residents on Lindholm will be foreign nationals whom Denmark is prevented from deporting due to legal or practical obstacles. As there are no prospect of these people leaving Denmark within a foreseeable future, the Danish state cannot deprive them from their liberty. It cannot become a prison,” says deputy director at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Louise Holck.

The Danish state canlimit the movement of the intended residents at Lindholm. However, only a few or none of the residents at Lindholm will be regarded as having lawful residence in Denmark. Therefore, the majority will not have the right to freedom of movement.

“But requiring a foreigner to stay on an island under strict living conditions is an interference with the right to privacy which over time can become unproportionate and also develop into degrading treatment, which is illegal pursuant to the European Convention on Human Rights,” says Louise Holck.

The Danish Institute for Human Rights will monitor the implementation of the new exit centre on Lindholm closely for possible violations of Denmark’s human rights obligations.

Read more in this fact sheet about the human rights challenges for the future exit centre at Lindholm. It also includes information about the future residents of Lindholm.