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A delegation of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out an ad hoc visit to France from 13 to 24 October. The objective was to assess the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty under immigration legislation. To this end, the delegation visited six immigration detention centres and two detention zones at Paris (Charles-de-Gaulle) and Lyon (Saint Exupéry) airports.
In the course of the visit, the delegation held consultations with senior officials of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Health. It also met with Dominique Simonnot, Contrôleure générale des lieux de privation de liberté (National Preventive Mechanism) as well as representatives of the Defender of Rights (Ombudsperson) and of non-governmental organisations.
The delegation was composed of Kristina Pardalos (Head of delegation), Valérie Bernard, Vanessa Durich Moulet, and Nico Hirsch, members of the Committee; Kelly Sipp and Patrice Weber of the CPT Secretariat and an expert, Teresa Salamone, doctor (Switzerland).
At the end of the visit, the delegation shared its preliminary observations with the French authorities.
The report following this visit is expected to be adopted by the CPT in March 2026 and subsequently communicated to the French authorities with recommendations aimed at improving the situation of persons deprived of their liberty.
The delegation visited the following establishments where foreign nationals were being held:
Immigration detention centres
- Immigration detention centre of Coquelles
- Immigration detention centre No. 2 of Lyon Saint-Exupéry
- Immigration detention centre Nos. 2 and 3 of Mesnil-Amelot
- Immigration detention centre Nos. 1 and 2 of Paris-Vincennes
Waiting areas at airports
- Waiting area (ZAPI 3) at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport
- Waiting area at Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport
Source, text and picture – the CPT
