Procedural Problems in LGBT Asylum Cases Cover Image

Procedūrinės problemos LGBT prieglobsčio bylose
Procedural Problems in LGBT Asylum Cases

Author(s): Lyra Jakulevičienė, Laurynas Biekša, Eglė Samuchovaitė
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence
Published by: Mykolas Romeris University
Keywords: asylum; LGBT asylum seekers; credibility; reception; country of origin information; Reception Directive; Qualification Directive; Procedures Directive

Summary/Abstract: In 2012 there are 76 countries of the world still criminalising same-sex sexual acts between consenting adults. In seven of those countries homosexual acts are punishable with death penalty (i. e., Mauritania, Sudan, the northern states of Nigeria, the southern parts of Somalia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen). Homophobic (transphobic) attitudes are also frequent in many societies. However, the LGBT asylum seekers are frequently left outside the refugee definition due to many refugee qualification and procedural problems in LGBT cases. Criminalisation, state protection against non-state persecution, concealment of sexual or gender identity, internal protection were discussed in the previous article ‘The Refugee Qualification Problems in LGBT Asylum Cases’ by Laurynas Biekša2. In this article the authors aim to describe the main procedural problems in LGBT asylum cases (i. e., credibility assessment, late disclosure, country of origin information and reception) and propose their solutions. Guiding European and international standards are laid down in the Reception Directive3, Qualification Directive4, Procedures Directive5 and UNHCR Guidance Note6. Today these standards should serve as a starting point for identifying the problems LGBT asylum seekers may have during their asylum procedures and for finding possible solutions.

  • Issue Year: 19/2012
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 195-207
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: English
Toggle Accessibility Mode