In certain situations, you may be detained to prevent you from entering or staying in a country without legal grounds. However, this has to be done lawfully and with respect for your human rights.
Physical liberty is one of your fundamental human rights. Nobody has the right to limit your physical liberty without a good reason. However, there are situations where state authorities may have a valid reason to do so, namely to prevent people from entering or staying in a country without legal grounds.
Two situations may arise here:
- You are an asylum seeker. Therefore, the grounds for your detention are explained in the International Protection Act
- You are a national of another country and you don’t have a legal right to be in Slovenia (by having a visa, residence permit etc.). Therefore, the grounds for your detention are explained in the Foreigners Act
Detention & Human rights
While human rights permit such detention, it has to be carried out lawfully and non-arbitrarily. This means that the grounds for your detention must be prescribed by law, the authorities must follow procedures that are clearly set and must not treat you inhumanely. During the detention process, human rights such as the right to liberty and security, the right to life, the prohibition of inhumane or degrading treatment or torture and the right to private life may be affected.
About this Guide
This Guide will explain when you can be detained, what procedure should be followed, how you should be treated and what human rights violations might occur in particular situations during the detention process.
note This Guide will only give you guidance regarding your detention in situations when you are in country without legal grounds or seeking asylum. It will not explain, in substance, the grounds on which to claim access and stay in the country, or how to ask for asylum.
Assess your knowledge
If you wish to use the Guide for learning purposes, the Guide offers you the possibility to assess your knowledge in human rights before or after studying, by completing tests on different themes discussed in the Guide.