Basic rights in camps: short overview
For people in refugee camps, the fundamental rights of the Basic Law (GG) of the Federal Republic of Germany apply!
The fundamental rights of the residents, such as the inviolability of the dwelling (Article 13 GG), protection of marriage and family (Article 6 GG) and general freedom of action (Article 2 paragraph 1 GG) must not be violated by camp managers or the administrative staff.
Prohibited or inadmissible for camp managers and administrative staff in the camp:
Private living spaces of the residents
- searching
- entering without permission or concrete danger
- controlling (also not for attendance check)
When visiting
- checking identity papers or bags
- expressing blanket visitor bans or only limited visiting hours
- granting bans without objective danger or significant disruption
Post of the residents
- opening, reading or registering
- issuing mail only at limited times
Video surveillance in
- stairs, elevators or indoor areas
- lounges
- living spaces
Informing of the absence from the camp without concrete reason to
- the police
- the immigration office/ office of social welfare
- the post office
Regular attendance checks or logout
- Blanket smoking or alcohol ban
- Prohibiting the purchase of newspapers and Internet usage
- prohibiting personal furniture or general electrical appliances
Permissable under certain conditions:
- Searching of private rooms with judicial orders (police only)
- Hygiene controls of rooms at risk of infection (only government agencies)
- Entering the rooms in case of danger
- Visiting Regulations
- Video surveillance of the entrance area