LEGAL AND PROTECTION POLICY RESEARCH SERIES Alternatives to Detention of Asylum Seekers and Refugees Ophelia Field with the assistance of Alice Edwards External Consultants DIVISION OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION SERVICES POLAS/2006/03 April 2006 PROTECTION OPERATIONS AND LEGAL ADVICE SECTION (POLAS) DIVISION OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION SERVICES UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES CP 2500, 1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland E-mail:
[email protected] Website: http://www.unhcr.org This paper was prepared on behalf of UNHCR by Ophelia Field with the assistance of Alice Edwards, both of whom are external consultants. The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR. This paper may be freely quoted, cited and copied for academic, educational or other non- commercial purposes without prior permission from UNHCR, provided that the source is acknowledged. The paper is available online at http://www.unhcr.org/protect. © United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 2006 LEGAL AND PROTECTION POLICY RESEARCH SERIES Alternatives to Detention of Asylum Seekers and Refugees Ophelia Field with the assistance of Alice Edwards External Consultants DIVISION OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION SERVICES POLAS/2006/03 April 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................................................... III EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................IV