The Ideal Asylum Centre

-How to do it the RIGHT way!

SIZE MATTERS!

• The ideal centre has between 100 and 500 inhabitants

Location, location, location!

• Variety in the location of centres is important to accommodate different groups of asylum seekers.

• Locations should not be dictated solely by economy. Old army bases may be cheap, but tanks and planes are really scary!

Special needs for asylum seekers?

• Yes!• There are special groups that need special

attention.• Different standards for groups such as

UMAs, handicapped, trafficked women, etc.

Target Group Policy

• Every centre works with a specific target group – eg. UMA, trafficked women, etc. – but NOT with that group alone.

• Diversity prevents institutionalization

Privacy

• Privacy must be ensured• More privacy = less conflict• To the extent possible, asylum seekers

should be guaranteed private sleeping quarters.

Facilities

• Medical centre• Legal aid• Leisure room• Computer and internet access• Daycare

Security matters

• Staff should be capable of handling conflicts.

• Violent conflict is a matter for the police

Considerations regarding ethnicity/religion

• Mixing nationalities can lessen conflict• Dealing with other ethnic/religious

minorities is a core democracy principle

Organisations

• Organizations concerned with health/day care and legal advice could have facilities on the centre.

On flexibility

• Redundancy – Every centre should be able to „boost“ its capacity in case of influx

• De-centralized accomodation as a means of decreasing pressure on the centralized system.

Sustainability

• Open policy and a clearly defined strategy is crucial

• Inconsistency and inclarity = greater expenses

• Monopoly can be costly and dangerous!