WASHINGTON, DC – The ICRC is deeply concerned that the remaining detainees in Guantanamo Bay have been behind bars for so many years with little or no clarity about what will happen to them.
The ICRC notes that some prisoners remain in Guantanamo Bay today despite being considered eligible for transfer more than ten years ago.
“The detainees who are considered eligible by the U.S. government should be transferred today,” said Patrick Hamilton, ICRC’s chief of staff in the United States and Canada. “After 20 years and well over 100 visits, we see that the longer time passes for these prisoners, the more they and their families suffer. The humanitarian justification for enabling them to leave is authorized to do so. , is obvious, and so much more for those whose departure has been delayed for so long. “
The ICRC, an independent and neutral humanitarian organization, is authorized under the 1949 Geneva Conventions to visit prisoners and prisoners of war to assess the conditions of detention and treatment of people. We do this in more than 90 countries and territories around the world. ICRC teams share their concerns and recommendations on a confidential basis with prison officials and government authorities with the aim of ensuring that the dignity and well-being of detainees are respected and that the conditions of detention are in accordance with laws and internationally recognized standards.
The ICRC first visited prisoners in Guantanamo Bay on 18 January 2002. We meet privately with any prisoner wishing to meet with us, and with their consent we address concerns with the US authorities. The ICRC also facilitates communication between prisoners and their families through letters, phone calls and video links, a core humanitarian aid service.
We remain committed to our work to engage the detention authorities, including in the issue of caring for an aging population, and to connect prisoners with their families. We have worked to develop a constructive and comprehensive dialogue with the US Government on Guantanamo Bay, and we expect this to continue.
(SOURCE: ICRC PRESS RELEASE)
