Situation during visit in 2008 Information received in the reporting Steps taken in previous years and (See A/HRC/13/39/Add.6; A/HRC/16/52/Add.2A) period their cases thoroughly reviewed by the refugee authorities based on a factual and individual assessment of all relevant information. The Refugee Appeals Board shall stay updated and informed about the general situation in the countries from which Denmark receives asylum-seekers, and the board has an extensive collection of background information which includes – but is not limited to – recommendations and guidelines from UNHCR. Iraqi asylumseekers who have had their cases reviewed by the refugee authorities also have the opportunity to apply for a residence permit on humanitarian grounds. According to the Danish Aliens Act, Section 9 b, subsection 1, a residence permit on humanitarian grounds can be granted to a foreign national who is registered by the Immigration Service as an asylum seeker in Denmark. The applicant must be in such a situation that significant humanitarian considerations warrant a residence permit. The Parliament decided that humanitarian residence permits should be the exception, not the rule. the conditions or situations that entitle the applicants to dispensation, such as severe physical impairment or mental illness, due to severe trauma (torture) as is the case with the legislation on acquisition of citizenship. According to a circular on naturalization (no 61/2008), persons suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) are explicitly excluded from obtaining a dispensation, even if the condition is chronic and documented by a certificate issued by a medical doctor. Reportedly, the tightening of the rules on citizenship and permanent residence has in some instances made the situation for torture survivors, who are undergoing rehabilitation very difficult, due to the uncertainty of their legal status. Reportedly, an increasing number of torture survivors in Denmark have had Applications for a residence permit on humanitarian grounds are considered by the to forego rehabilitation due to extreme poverty. This is due to the fact that Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs. The Ministry conducts a many torture survivors receive the socalled starting allowance, which was factual assessment of each individual introduced in 2002 with the purpose of application. In making this individual assessment, the Ministry places importance increasing the incentives for refugees and immigrants to seek employment on the applicant‘s personal situation. (Act on Active Social Policy 2002). The According to the Ministry‘s practice, a starting allowance amounts to 650 EUR humanitarian residence permit may be granted to persons who suffer from a per month, while the regular physical or a mental illness of a very serious unemployment benefit, cash allowance, nature, who cannot receive the necessary amounts to 1.320 EUR. Reportedly, medical treatment in their home country, as living on such a small amount does not well as persons who, upon return to a home A/HRC/19/61/Add.3 42 Recommendations (A/HRC/10/44/Add.2)