A/HRC/32/10
41.
Denmark emphasized that the Government regarded hate speech and hate crimes,
online or not, as a high priority area in crime prevention. A monitoring programme had
been launched, the results of which should facilitate better plans and national strategies on
hate crime prevention in the future.
42.
Danish legislation ensured comprehensive protection against discrimination on the
grounds of race and ethnic origin. In an effort to promote tolerance and combat racism and
xenophobia, the authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society had
carried out several initiatives.
43.
The delegation, responding to comments, noted that in 2015, temporary protection
status had been introduced for asylum seekers entitled to asylum on the basis of the general
situation in their home country. Only about 20 per cent of those who had been granted
asylum fell under the temporary protection status category. In general, the right to family
reunification was deferred for that group. Exceptions to the deferral were made based on an
individual assessment in each case, ensuring observance of the country’s international
obligations and ensuring that, where individual circumstances dictated it, family
reunification was granted within the initial one-year period. That could be extended to three
years pending a proposal that would be debated in Parliament.
44.
Regarding seizure of valuables, the Danish welfare State was based on the principle
that the State would provide and pay for individuals who were unable to take care of
themselves. It would therefore provide for asylum seekers who were unable to take care of
themselves. The authorities would be given the power to seize valuables, such as cash, that
had a value of over approximately US$ 1,500 in order to cover expenses such as
subsistence and housing during the processing of the asylum application. It was a
misconception that that authorities would seize jewellery that was of sentimental value to
the owner.
45.
Newly arrived asylum seekers could be detained only when it was necessary to
complete the registration and identification process and would be released immediately
after completion of that process. Rejected asylum seekers could be detained only if they did
not cooperate on their return and if deportation was possible. Both rules were in conformity
with the international obligations of Denmark. A rule had been introduced suspending
automatic access to judicial review of a detention within three days. The rule could be
applied only in a period when there was a significant increase in refugees and migrants. On
request, the lawfulness of a detention would be decided by a court as soon as possible.
46.
Responding to a question, the delegation said that all newly arrived immigrants and
refugees were offered training in the Danish language and on the basic functions of society,
as well as activities to facilitate their access to the labour market or an education. Civil
society played an important role in the integration process. For example, the Danish Red
Cross ran a project offering a Danish friend to all newly arrived refugees to encourage and
support their understanding of how Danish society worked while building bridges between
cultures and fostering better cross-cultural understanding.
47.
Denmark had made a commitment to ratify the International Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Denmark was currently examining
the need for legislative amendments for Greenland and the Faroes in order to meet the
obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Denmark was party to the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and committed to its full
implementation. However, many social and economic rights entailed important
macroeconomic choices better decided upon in a parliamentary setting. Therefore there was
no intention to ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights. Denmark found that the International Convention on the
7
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents