Download the report, How to Build a Detention Centre
Read the Press Release in Greek
A new report released today by the Aegean Migrant Solidarity program of Community Peacemaker Teams offers an in-depth investigation into the construction and operation of the new Closed Controlled Access Center (CCAC) in Vastria, Lesvos. Titled How to Build a Detention Centre: the case of Vastria in Lesvos, the report exposes the policies, politics, and impacts behind Greece’s evolving approach to migration management.
Following the collapse of the “Moria” model, this research highlights the Greek and European shift toward remote, militarized detention infrastructures. It unpacks the politics behind decision-making processes, the strategic nature of location choices, and analyses the reactions of local authorities, communities, and civil society.
Key findings include:
- A structural transformation of the Greek state’s migration management model, from reception “hotspots” to isolated, prison-like facilities under constant surveillance.
- Conflicts between local authorities and the Greek state, resulting from the project’s imposition onto local communities.
- Analysis of the legal and civic opposition by local actors.
- The erosion of resistance as a result of public fatigue, political restrictions, and strategic maneuvering by the state.
- Alarming implications for human rights, especially regarding accessibility, detention conditions, isolation, and concerns about the safety, education, and freedom of asylum seekers.
- The geopolitical and symbolic importance of locating the facility in Vastria, a remote location with potential for future expansion.
The report serves as a warning about the future of migration management in the EU, and its costs on human rights, the environment, and social cohesion.
Download the report, How to Build a Detention Centre
Read the Press Release in Greek
The report is available in digital format and may be freely shared and reproduced with proper attribution.
For media inquiries, please contact lesvos@cpt.org
