Seminar: Fleeing Homophobia, Seeking Safety in Europe
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Each year, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) apply for asylum in EU Member States including Cyprus. The European Union and European States have already taken some concrete and positive steps, such as recognising sexual orientation as a persecution ground in Article 10 of the Qualification Directive. However, it has been observed that there are considerable differences in the way in which European States examine LGBTI asylum applications. As Europe aims at creating a Common European Asylum System with a uniform status, this is highly problematic. The VU University of Amsterdam and the Federation of Dutch Associations for the Integration of Homosexuality, COC Netherlands, are implementing the research project “Fleeing Homophobia. Seeking Safety in Europe. Best Practices on the (Legal) Position of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex) Asylum Seekers in the EU Member States”. The research is funded by the European Refugee Fund and the Dutch Ministry of Justice.
In order to collect data for the research in each country, 26 experts on asylum law have been contacted and have submitted a report on the situation of LGBTI asylum seekers in each of their countries. The country reports describe legislation and policy; practice; and case law concerning the criteria for recognising LGBTI asylum seekers as refugees or as entitles to subsidiary protection, as well as asylum procedures in as far as they hinder or facilitate a proper assessment of the claims of LGBTI asylum applicants.
Within the scope of the project a conference is being organized in the Netherlands in September, as well as seven regional/national meetings in Sweden/Finland, Poland, Italy, Austria, France, Malta and Cyprus.
Project's background
Future Worlds Center as the national representative for Cyprus in the project is organizing a national seminar/training on LGBTI asylum seekers in Cyprus in collaboration with UNHCR Cyprus. This two-day seminar which took place on 16-17 November at the Classic Hotel in Nicosia aimed at presenting the report entitled Fleeing Homophobia, seeking safety in Europe by Sabine Jansen and Thomas Spijkerboer, in which the record of European states is assessed, as well as raising awareness among government officials and other relevant practitioners on issues such as the national and international legal framework for the protection of LGBTI persons’ rights and how to asses their asylum claims.
Participants
Participants at the seminar included governmental officials from the Asylum Service, the Reviewing Authority, the Social Welfare Services, and legal officers of the Supreme Court, the Ombudsperson’s office, academics as well as NGO representatives.
