The Council of Europe SOGI Unit and the HELP Secretariat, in partnership with the UNHCR and the EUAA, are organising the HELP international course launch and conference on LGBTI persons in the asylum procedure on 4 December 2023, from 9:00 to 18:00 CET. The event will be held in hybrid format and will be webcast online.
Seizing the opportunity of the launch and promotion of the HELP module on “LGBTI persons in the asylum procedure”, the conference gathers international and national stakeholders to exchange on existing relevant standards, practices and tools, and to raise awareness on the lived realities and rights of LGBTI asylum seekers, whose specific needs and vulnerabilities are often misunderstood or overlooked.
The event aims to delve into the multifaceted challenges and intricacies faced by LGBTI individuals in their search for protection. It will focus on the following key areas:
- A path strewn with pitfalls - the lived realities of LGBTI asylum seekers
- Navigating the landscape - existing standards and tools to improve effective access to the asylum system for LGBTI applicants
- Beyond the asylum claim - specific challenges for the reception and integration of LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees
Each session will include an overview, insights from members of the LGBTI community and CSOs, experts, views from national authorities, and an open discussion. The event is open to professionals involved in the asylum process such as, lawyers, judges and prosecutors dealing with asylum claims, asylum caseworkers, border guards, staff in reception and detention centers, and CSO representatives supporting LGBTI asylum seekers.
Alongside the event, 40 participants from the Council of Europe member states will be selected for a first international implementation of the online HELP course on LGBTI persons in the asylum procedure. The group will be tutored by an expert who will provide support during the undertaking of the online course. The group will gain in-depth knowledge about key concepts and stereotypes or incorrect assumptions in adjudicating cases involving LGBTI persons, international standards and how they have been applied by national asylum authorities and courts across Europe, as well as relevant case-law. By the end of the course, the participants will have a better understanding of the rights of LGBTI asylum-seekers throughout the different stages of their asylum-claim, with regards to substantive and procedural aspects.
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Watch online (web streaming)
