Are measures taken to avoid the detention of VoTs? Yes: Croatia, France, Italy, New Zealand. No: Armenia, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Kosovo, Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, Canada, Australia. Not sure: Germany, Moldova, USA. Yes (4; 22%) No (11; 61%) Not sure (3; 17%) VoTs. Only centres in Croatia, France and Italy indicated that there are such measures in place. In Croatia, measures are taken to avoid the detention of VoTs. The Ministry of Interior will move an asylum-seeker from detention to alternative accommodation if it is indicated by a medical expert or psychologist that the person is possibly a VoT. In Italy, NGOs can help to identify and provide assistance to vulnerable persons in detention centres. They are able to make direct requests to the immigration authorities for the person’s release. However, there are no measures taken by the immigration authorities themselves to identify VoTs, who may have been placed in immigration detention. In Hungary, Cordelia Foundation reported that there are no official measures in place to avoid detaining VoTs. In practice, there has been no detention of asylum-seekers since the beginning of 2013; however, this is likely to change with new proposed legislation. In the Netherlands, the government recorded 3,220 irregular migrants and asylum-seekers taken into detention between January and June 2012. Many of those apprehended are held in detention centres more akin to remand facilities, and alternatives to detention are rarely used.88 In cases where a VoT is in detention, organisations such as Amnesty International may address the authorities alerting them to the person’s particular situation. However, there is no guarantee that the person will be released from detention. The member centres in Germany provided different responses to the question. The IRCT member centre bzfo reported that NGOs and lawyers representing the asylum applicant take measures to avoid the detention of VoTs. However, the other German member centre, MFH Bochum, indicated that no measures are taken, perhaps referring only to measures taken by the immigration authorities themselves. According to Amnesty International, asylum-seekers entering Germany via an airport, who went through an accelerated asylum procedure, were routinely detained in the airport transit area.89 Rest of Europe: Armenia, Kosovo and Turkey reported that no measures are taken to avoid detention of VoTs. In Armenia, border guards may detain asylum-seekers entering Armenia for up to 72 hours.90 The centre in Moldova stated that it had no information for this question. All individuals that enter Kosovan borders and claim asylum are immediately sheltered in an Asylum-Seekers Reception Centre. The IRCT member centre KRCT visits each of these asylum-seekers and provides information about their psychological situation upon their consent. None of those asylum-seekers found to be VoTs are placed in a detention centre. North America and the Pacific There are differing responses in North America and in the Pacific. In Canada, no measures are taken 52 / Recognising victims of torture in national asylum procedures