[JURIST] Asylum seekers and migrants have faced abuse at the hands of police in Macedonia, according to a 59-page report [text] released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] on Monday. The report, “‘As Though We Are Not Human Beings’: Police Brutality against Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Macedonia,” details the physical and emotional abuse inflicted on migrants as well as the poor conditions in the detention facilities in which they are placed. One migrant, Tariq, discussed how he was detained as soon as he arrived in Macedonia by the Gazi Baba police and placed in a facility containing hundreds of detained people. There were only two toilets and he was allowed to shower only once a week using only cold water. There were also many instances of humiliating abuse documented such as vicious beatings, beatings with police batons, arbitrary detention, and gender based violence. In the report, HRW offered recommendations to several organizations including the government of Macedonia, the EU and the UN, asking them to hold those who have committed atrocities accountable for their actions, provide an “effective remedy” for those detained, “issue clear guidance” so that future atrocities can be avoided, and issue follow-up procedure and investigations to make sure situations like this never arise again.

The rights of migrant populations has emerged as the most significant humanitarian issue around the world, as millions seek asylum from conflict nations. Last week the UN rights chief, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein [official profile], urged [JURIST report] “effective and principled migration governance.” Also last week Germany announced [JURIST report] that it is invoking temporary border controls at the nation’s southern border with Austria, after thousands of immigrants entered the country in recent days. Earlier this month the Hungarian National Assembly [official website] passed a number of emergency measures [JURIST report] to address the recent mass migration into Europe. Also earlier this month UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged [JURIST report] the global community to develop comprehensive solutions to allow for safe and legal migration after more than 70 bodies, believed to be Syrian asylum seekers, were discovered in a truck near the Austria-Hungary border.