Gesthuizen: 'Don’t treat undocumented foreigners as if they were criminals’
Gesthuizen: 'Don’t treat undocumented foreigners as if they were criminals’
In recent weeks SP Member of Parliament Sharon Gesthuizen has received appeals from hundreds of Dutch people calling for an end to the unnecessarily strict regime in detention centres for undocumented foreigners, many of whom are being unjustly treated as criminals.
In 2010 a parliamentary motion from Gesthuizen won a majority behind its plea for an enquiry into alternatives to the existing detention centres. This enquiry is now proceeding and should eventually lead to improvements in support for people in such centres, which will also make a more rapid return to the country of origin possible.
'I’m pleased that I received so many cards from people who are concerned with other people’s fate’ says Gesthuizen. ‘I have replied by sending a postcard to Amnesty International, who initiated the action.’