OMBUDSWOMAN STOISITS VISITS INDEPENDENT CONSULTATION SERVICE OF THE `DIAKONIE FLÜCHTLINGSDIENST’

Beginning of October, Ombudswoman Stoisits held consultations in the Tyrol. On the occasion, she visited the independent consultation service of the Diakonie Flüchtlingsdienst. Around 40 persons, mostly lawyers, have organized this service due to the precarious situation of refugees in the Tyrol. The legal consultations offered here are free of charge.

Every asylum seeker is entitled a free of charge legal consultation after the implementation of the EU-guideline in Austria. However, the state has divided asylum seekers into old and new cases. Asylum seekers who have been involved in procedures for years have to file an application for a free of charge consultation until the 31. October 2011. This deadline has drawn criticism.

During the conversation with Ombudswoman Stoisits, Ralf Niederhammer and Katharina Lang from the independent consultation service criticized the lack of information. The ombudswoman was surprised by the actions taken by the Ministry of the Interior. Since January 2011 the independent consultation service has served 420 asylum seekers and given 1000 consultations. The legal advisors stressed the fact that the number of persons seeking a consultation are on the rise.