Amnesty International Documents Abuse and Torture of Migrants by Security Forces in Ceuta

• Amnesty International reports that military and police forces in Ceuta have subjected migrants to torture and inhumane treatment.
• Evidence confirms systemic patterns of violence, including beatings, theft, sexual harassment, and forced deportations.
• Thousands of vulnerable people, including unaccompanied minors and women, are living in squalid, unsanitary conditions without basic humanitarian or medical support.

Patterns of Abuse

• Investigations reveal evidence of beatings with regulation batons, humiliating rituals, and the confiscation or destruction of personal property like mobile phones.
• At least 65 survivors provided testimonies detailing incidents such as being forced to kneel, having hair forcibly shaved, and being subjected to sexual violence.
• Security forces have been linked to illegal summary expulsions, including cases involving asylum seekers from conflict-affected nations like Yemen.

Humanitarian Crisis

• Hundreds of minors and women remain homeless and unprotected, living under plastic sheeting or in tents with no access to clean water, showers, or toilets.
• Food distribution by organizations like the Red Cross is described as insufficient, often requiring migrants to wait hours in the sun under police guard.
• Medical care is often inaccessible, and reports indicate instances of healthcare staff expressing xenophobic sentiment toward those seeking help.

Calls for Action

• Amnesty International has demanded urgent intervention from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Ceuta President Juan Vivas to provide dignified shelter and specialized support.
• The organization urges regional governments to cease obstructing the resettlement of migrants and to adhere to international human rights legislation.