AN NGO ADVOCACY GUIDE

PUT A CAP ON
IMMIGRATION
DETENTION!
A supplement to There are alternatives: a handbook for
preventing unnecessary immigration detention

Dear civil society partners, CAP is a unique combination of mechanisms to prevent

unnecessary detention with strategies for effective and humane case
Governments around the world are increasingly using detention
resolution in the community, reducing the financial and human cost
as a migration management tool, with refugees, asylum seekers
of immigration detention. The handbook uses pragmatic language in
and migrants detained for prolonged periods in conditions below
order to be effective for policy makers.
international standards, that deny basic rights, and with limited
This NGO Advocacy Guide explores five major activities we
or no access to asylum procedures or judicial review of their
can undertake to prevent unnecessary detention and to ensure
detention. International human rights law and standards indicate
community-based alternatives for refugees, asylum seekers and
that alternatives to detention should be first explored, with detention
migrants: Analyse, Network, Prioritise, Advocate and Connect.
used only as a last resort, in exceptional cases, after all other options
Emerging from two years’ research and international advocacy
have been shown to be inadequate in the individual case.
work on alternatives to detention, the advocacy strategies outlined
The International Detention Coalition (IDC) has identified
in this guide draw from experience and learnings from UN level
alternative to detention examples from around the world, combined
meetings, direct government engagement and the work of civil
into a good practice handbook, including CAP, the Community
society and NGOs in various regions. Use the guide to engage with
Assessment and Placement model.
your government.
Grant Mitchell, IDC, Director

WHAT IS CAP
The five-step Community Assessment and Placement model CAP ensures governments have a clear understanding of the
outlines mechanisms and examples from around the world that diversity within the population of asylum seekers and irregular
prevent unnecessary detention and effectively support individuals migrants, as well as understanding those contexts that promote
in the community. Full details are provided in chapter four of the
good outcomes for a range of stakeholders. Individual case and
handbook that can be found at www.idcoalition.org/cap
community assessments assist in making informed decisions on
appropriate placement, the setting of conditions if required, and
THE CAP MODEL the provision for basic needs, legal advice and individual case
Community Assessment and Placement model management while awaiting a final outcome. The research found
that detention is not necessary to meet government requirements
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of compliance and co-operation, as in most cases the first three
steps outlined are sufficient.
1.
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setting conditions in Detain only as
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in exceptional
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Detain
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PLACEMENT OPTIONS
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The IDC is seeking to engage governments on how this model can be used to support and manage asylum
seekers, refugees and irregular migrants in the community without resorting to detention. The handbook asks
governments to work with civil society to achieve this. You can use the CAP model as a framework to engage
your government on exploring alternatives to detention. The ideas listed are to assist in this process, and will
require analysis of which steps from the handbook are applicable in your country.

1 !
ANALYSE AND APPLY CAP
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’:W\Yc^eWbVbVS721W\g]c``SUW]\ For example: In the Netherlands, civil society groups came together under the coalition
“No child in detention”. On 29 January 2008 the government publicised a new policy
regarding the immigration detention of children and their families creating more
alternative accommodation for them , and the improvement of detention conditions. After
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Start by mapping and choosing key targets
(power mapping), i.e decision-makers and allies.
These may be government ministers, cabinet staff,
administration or national bodies. Choose people who have the power
to make changes to immigration detention or who can influence
those with this power, such as friendly parliamentarians or nationally
respected figures. 4]Qca]\OaSb]TYSg^S]^ZS`ObVS`bVO\]\O\
S\bW`SW\abWbcbW]\
KEY MESSAGE
Use one message throughout. Ensure the message is evidence-based,
using suporting arguments on page four and from your national
analysis from actvity 1.
/RO^bbVSaSYSg[SaaOUSaPSZ]eT]`g]c`\ObW]\OZQ]\bSfb(
For the public, allies and constituencies The government, policy makers,
legislators and officials
(X) many people are detained every year The CAP model reduces the financial and
for immigration purposes. This has a very human cost of immigration detention and
negative impact on their mental and avoids wrongful and unneccesary detention.
physical health especially for (Y) vulnerable It maximizes management and case
group. There are effective alternatives, resolution in the community.
which the government must start using.
B/1B71A(
Use the right tactics when working towards the goal. Be flexible and
creative and use the powers of the various allies to reach the set of
key people you have identified. Choose a name and slogan for your
campaign. Make sure you tell the same story throughout. Various
tactics will need to overlap in time. Make separate plans with specific
timings and plan backwards.
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IDENTIFIED TACTICS – 3f^Z]`SbVSaSb]aSSeVWQVO`S`SZSdO\bW\g]c`\ObW]\OZQ]\bSfb
For the public, allies and constituencies
… Focus the message on your priority vulnerable group to make the issue concrete
… Engage with media about alternatives to detention (letters to the editor, press
releases, reports, research, media events, Op-Eds). Make it a growing issue, repeat the
message over time on various occasions
… Regularly inform the media of new data about your priority group. Always immediately
circulate media releases to your network as well
… Get pro bono help from a communications agency to brand the campaign and develop
tools for action (post cards, posters, brochures, etc). Or you can use the graphic elements
of the handbook (the silhouettes) which you can download from the website
… Engage with the public (petitions, letter writing, events, outreach etc) using stories of
people in detention and of those released into the community. Respect privacy and esure
confidentiality and consent
… Use professionals to capture audio-visual stories about your priority group and use them
online, at presentations, in schools, events etc
… Contact documentary and filmmakers with a story they can focus on
… Use social media to create a community around the issue. e.g. Facebook and Twitter
5]dS`\[S\bS\UOUS[S\b( Identify who in the network is best
placed to arrange a meeting with key government targets to discuss
‘solutions’. Ensure your network does more than just raise the
immigration detention problem and the lack of alternatives. Work out
how you and your network can assist the government in exploring and
developing these alternative models and the practical steps towards
implementing alternatives.
When preparing to talk to the government, read the “Introduction
for policy makers” to the handbook which outlines five stages in
exploring and implementing alternatives:
(Analyse the context, policy gaps and legislation
( Assess the population subject to or at risk of detention
!(Build partnerships within government and with civil society
"( Explore alternatives abroad and discuss locally and nationally
#(Implement pilots, policy change and legislative reform
Other organisations may use other tactical approaches such as
reporting on the impact of detention, litigation and public criticism,
but the direct government engagement strategy should focus on
working to find cost effective and efficient solutions that benefit all
stakeholders.
@SOQVW\UbVSeWRS`^cPZWQBuild public support for alternatives by
telling a powerful story. For example, wrongful detention, appalling
conditions or the impact on a vulnerable group, may easily get media
attention, however we need make sure people start thinking beyond
detention and focus on the SOLUTIONS, i.e. alternatives.
Use media to reach the end goal, which is to convince governments
to prevent and reduce immigration detention. The organisation in
the network with the biggest media experience and capacity can
contact media on its behalf. Find and brief friendly parliamentarians
and nationally respected figures to talk about their concerns about
immigration detention and highlight which neighbouring countries do
not detain and use alternatives instead. Find the most powerful stories
on individual cases of vulnerable groups in detention to highlight the
need for change. Invite the media to visit a detention centre, as well
as similar groups living peacefully in the community. See page 10 of
the handbook for arguments to highlight the positive contributions of
asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in the community.
The government, policy makers, legislators and officials
… Find ways to constructively engage with government, be solutions focused
… Develop legislative, policy and programmatic models for change building on existing
community models. Don’t wait for the government to do it
… Pilot, test and research these models yourself where possible
… Promote the model to government, focussing on how it works in practice
… Encourage governments to develop and implement the model, including pilots and
national programs, highlighting your priority group
… Write to your government on behalf of your network
… Organise an expert roundtable to explore preventative mechanisms and alternatives
relevant in the national and local context
… Invite friendly parliamentarians to visit detention centres and alternatives
… Encourage and facilitate a study visit to countries already implementing alternatives
to detention
… Use questions in parliament to table the issue and obtain relevant information
… Use strategic litigation. Ensure the public message is that the case is about the need for
policy change
… Use international human rights instruments and mechanisms to draw international
attention to the issue, such as the Universal Periodic Review and the UN Working Group
for Arbitrary Detention
Successful examples: AC>>=@B7<5/@5C;3<BA4=@16/<53

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release of unaccompanied minors from detention in Japan
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new legal and policy detention framework, which ensures detention is rarely used.
They have been active in its development, implementation and monitoring
its effectiveness
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the government to demonstrate the reasons for detention, leading to policy changes
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capacity building, campaign and advocacy work, in collaboration with key
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’2SbS\bW]\VO`[a( Detention, even for short periods, harms
health and wellbeing for all. The consequences for the
cognitive and emotional development of children may be
lifelong
’2SbS\bW]\dW]ZObSaVc[O\`WUVba(Detention undermines an
individual’s right to liberty and places them at greater risk of
arbitrary detention and human rights violations
’2SbS\bW]\WaQ]abZg(Detention and removal is more
expensive than community-based alternatives.
’2SbS\bW]\R]Sa\]bRSbS`(Detention is not effective in
deterring asylum seekers, refugees and irregular migrants.
’2SbS\bW]\WaQ]c\bS`^`]RcQbWdSin achieving compliance
with final decisions. On the contrary, asylum seekers and
irregular migrants in the community comply and cooperate
if they are able to meet their basic needs, have been through
a fair and informed process and are supported to achieve
sustainable long-term solutions while awaiting a decision on
their case.
’BVS`SO`SOZbS`\ObWdSab]RSbS\bW]\( Cost-effective,
humane and reliable alternatives to detention are currently

#
used around the world and have been found to benefit
government, the community and the individual.
CONNECT TO THE
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eeeTOQSP]]YQ][WRQQO^ for updates
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our members, as well as developments in advocating for alternatives
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The International Detention Coalition brings together over 250 civil society organisations and
individuals from 50 countries across the globe working together to improve the human rights of
detained refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. To find out more or download the handbook visit:
www.idcoalition.org or email: info@idcoalition.org.