CoE's commissioner criticises Poland's draft asylum law
The Council of Europe's (CoE) human rights commissioner in a letter to Poland's Senate speaker has criticised the country's new legislation restricting the right to asylum.
The draft law, which was passed by the lower house last month, allows the government to issue a resolution limiting the right to apply for international protection in order to "prevent destabilisation of the internal situation" in the country.
Since 2021, Poland has been struggling to contain a wave of mostly North African and Middle Eastern migrants trying to cross into the country from Belarus.
According to the law, the restrictions may only last for up to 60 days at a time and may be extended by a further 60 days with the lower house's approval.
Michael O'Flaherty, the CoE's human rights commissioner, wrote a letter to Polish Senate Speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, urging her and the senators not to accept the bill, arguing that the safeguards included in it are not sufficient to prevent deportation of people who could be persecuted in their home countries.
He also said the difficulty in confirming a migrant's age may result in a minor being exposed to health risks or danger of persecution in their home country.
To become law, the bill needs to be approved by the Senate and the president. (PAP)
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