Joint OHCHR/UNHCR Press Release
01 July 2019 | Español | Français
States and other actors involved in refugee protection must recognize the unique vulnerability and specific needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and gender-diverse (LGBTI) asylum-seekers and refugees, the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, and UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Volker Türk, said today.
“For many LGBTI people, the trauma and persecution start well before their actual flight to safety,” the Independent Expert said. “Persecution often manifests through laws that criminalise sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or that are discriminatory.”
He said LGBTI people are also exposed to disproportionate levels of arbitrary detention, police abuse, violence and extrajudicial killings by both State and non-State actors, as well as abuse in medical settings, including forced sterilisations and so-called ‘conversion therapies’. Their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association is often also unduly restricted.
“Unfortunately the journey to safety can prove particularly treacherous for many LGBTI refugees who continue to face prejudice and violence in countries of transit and host countries,” Türk said.
The first element of protection is access to asylum, the UN experts said. It is crucial that States ensure that a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and/or sex characteristics is accepted as a ground for the recognition of refugee status. Presently, some 37 States grant asylum to individuals on such grounds, but the majority of States adjudicating asylum unjustifiably fail to do so.
States should take measures to address the violations faced by LGBTI refugees and asylum-seekers, including through incorporating LGBTI-sensitive measures into their asylum procedures.
“Officials involved in the process of determination of refugee status and in managing reception conditions should receive sensitive and culturally appropriate training on sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics,” said Türk. This should include individual assessments sensitive of the protection needs of LGBTI persons and using interviewing and assessing techniques that respect the dignity and privacy of persons seeking asylum and that are determined in an objective and sensitive manner, not on the basis of stereotyping or cultural bias.
Additional efforts are also needed to ensure that those providing protection and assistance have the knowledge and training to prevent and respond to such incidences, and avoid exclusion.
An assessment of the protection needs of each individual, while in transit, and upon arrival in destination countries, as well as access to adequate housing in safe settings with adequate sanitation facilities are particularly crucial for LGBTI people, as they are exposed to risk of harassment, abuse and violence in reception centres, collective shelters and camp settings.
“Access to LGBTI-sensitive health care and reproductive rights services becomes particularly challenging for LGBTI refugees, in all stages and at all times during their journey,” said Madrigal-Borloz. For instance, interruption of hormone and other treatment associated with gender transition may be particularly harmful or lead to hazardous self-medication.
Türk said that, even in locations where LGBTI refugees are more accepted and services are accessible, many choose to conceal their sexual orientation and gender identity for fear they might be targeted or marginalised, particularly in densely populated areas. It is therefore crucial to create safe spaces and services that are designed in consultation with LGBTI people and their organisations.
“It is time to recognise the specific needs of LGBTI asylum-seekers and refugees and to give them the protection they need,” concluded the two experts.
Mr. Victor Madrigal-Borloz (Costa Rica) assumed the role of UN Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for a three year period starting on 1 January 2018. Until 30 June 2019, he served as the Secretary-General of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), a global network of over 150 rehabilitation centres with the vision of full enjoyment of the right to rehabilitation for all victims of torture and ill treatment. A member of the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture from 2013 to 2016, Mr Madrigal-Borloz was Rapporteur on Reprisals and oversaw a draft policy on the torture and ill-treatment of LGBTI persons.
Mr. Volker Türk (Austria) is UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, having previously served as the Director of the Division of International Protection from September 2009 to February 2015, and the Director for Organizational Development and Management from April 2008 to September 2009 in Geneva. From 1991 to March 2008, he occupied various positions in many parts of the world, including in Malaysia, Kosovo (S/RES/1244 (1999)), Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kuwait. From 2000 to 2004, he was Chief of the Protection Policy and Legal Advice Section at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva. Prior to his time with UNHCR, Mr. Türk worked as a University Assistant at the Institute of International Law at the University of Vienna (Austria), where he finished his doctoral thesis on UNHCR and its mandate (published in 1992). From 1985 to 1988, he was a Research Assistant at the Institute of Criminal Law at the University of Linz (Austria). He has published widely on international refugee and human rights law.
For more information, please contact:
For OHCHR:
Alice Ochsenbein, aochsenbein@ohchr.org, +41 22 917 98 32
Catherine de Preux De Baets, cdepreuxdebaets@ohchr.org, +41 22 917 93 27
For UNHCR:
Cecile Pouilly, pouilly@unhcr.org, +41 79 108 26 25
Víctor Madrigal-Borloz, Experto Independiente de las Naciones Unidas sobre la protección contra la violencia y la discriminación por motivos de orientación sexual o identidad de género, y Volker Türk, Alto Comisionado Auxiliar para la Protección del ACNUR, han declarado hoy que los Estados y otros actores implicados en la protección de personas refugiadas deben reconocer la singular vulnerabilidad y las necesidades específicas de las personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transgénero, intersexuales o de género diverso (LGBTI) refugiadas o solicitantes de asilo.
“Para muchas personas LGBTI, el trauma y la persecución comienzan mucho antes de su huida efectiva en busca de seguridad”, dijo el Experto Independiente. “La persecución se suele manifestar a través de leyes que penalizan la orientación sexual, la identidad o la expresión de género, o que resultan discriminatorias”.
Nos contó que las personas LGBTI también se enfrentan a niveles desproporcionados de detenciones arbitrarias, abusos policiales y ejecuciones extrajudiciales a cargo de actores tanto estatales como no estatales, así como a abusos en entornos sanitarios como esterilizaciones forzadas y las llamadas “terapias de conversión”. Su derecho a la libertad de expresión, de reunión y de asociación suele ser objeto de restricciones indebidas.
“Por desgracia, el viaje hacia la seguridad puede resultar especialmente peligroso para muchas personas refugiadas LGBTI que siguen enfrentando prejuicios y violencia en países de tránsito y acogida”, declaró Türk.
Según los expertos de Naciones Unidas, el primer elemento de protección es el derecho al asilo. Resulta crucial que los países garanticen la aceptación de los temores bien fundados de persecución por motivos de orientación sexual, identidad de género, expresión de género y/o características sexuales como motivo para el reconocimiento de la condición de refugiado En la actualidad, unos 37 Estados reconocen el asilo por estos motivos, pero la mayoría de los países otorgantes de asilo siguen sin hacerlo sin que exista justificación alguna para ello.
Los países deben adoptar las medidas necesarias para abordar las violaciones sufridas por personas refugiadas y solicitantes de asilo LGBTI, entre otras la incorporación a los procedimientos de asilo de medidas que tengan en cuenta a estas personas.
“Los oficiales involucrados en el proceso de determinación de la condición de refugiado y en la gestión de las condiciones de recepción deberían recibir formación adecuada desde un punto de vista cultural y de sensibilidad en materia de orientación sexual, identidad de género y características sexuales”, dijo Türk. Aquí deben incluirse evaluaciones individuales sensibles a la protección que precisan las personas LGBTI y que utilicen técnicas de entrevista y valoración que respeten la dignidad y la intimidad de las personas solicitantes de asilo y que vengan determinadas de manera objetiva y sensible, no a partir de estereotipos o sesgos culturales.
También son necesarios esfuerzos adicionales para garantizar que las personas encargadas de protección y asistencia dispongan de los conocimientos y la formación necesarios para prevenir y dar respuesta a tales incidencias, así como para evitar la exclusión.
Una evaluación de las necesidades de protección de cada persona durante el tránsito y a su llegada a los países de destino, así como el acceso a un alojamiento adecuado en un entorno seguro y con instalaciones aceptables de saneamiento resultan de especial relevancia para personas LGBTI, ya que están expuestas a un riesgo de acoso, abuso y violencia en los centros de recepción, albergues colectivos y campamentos.
“El acceso a una atención sanitaria y a servicios de derechos reproductivos que presten atención a las personas refugiadas LGBTI supone un gran desafío para ellas en todas las etapas y en todo momento durante su travesía”, comentó Madrigal-Borloz. Por ejemplo, la interrupción de tratamientos hormonales y de otro tipo asociados a la transición de géneros puede ser especialmente perjudicial o traducirse en automedicaciones de elevado riesgo.
Türk añadió que, incluso en aquellas ubicaciones en las que las personas refugiadas LGBTI son más aceptadas y tienen un mejor acceso a servicios, muchas prefieren ocultar su orientación sexual y su identidad de género por miedo a ser perseguidas o marginadas, sobre todo en zonas densamente pobladas. Por ello, resulta crucial la creación de espacios y servicios seguros diseñados en colaboración con personas LGBTI y sus organizaciones.
Ambos expertos concluyeron: “Es hora de reconocer las necesidades específicas de las personas refugiadas y solicitantes de asilo LGBTI y de brindarles la protección que necesitan”.
LGBTI Claims
The persecution of people because of their sexual orientation and gender identity is not a new phenomenon. It is only in more recent years that a growing number of asylum claims have been made by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals. This has necessitated greater awareness among decision-makers of the specific experiences of LGBTI asylum-seekers and a deeper examination of the legal questions involved.
UNHCR has issued several interpretive instruments recognizing the specific protection needs of LGBTI individuals. The following summary details UNHCR’s views in regards to the analysis of LGBTI claims and particular issues which may arise under such claims. This summary provides guidance on how to use UNHCR’s views and international law to assist asylum-seekers in the United States.
Webinar
On April 20th, UNHCR and Texas A&M University School of Law co-hosted a training on "Representing LGBTI Asylum-Seekers: Leveraging International Law to Strengthen Asylum Claims."
Recording available here.
UNHCR’s Resources
Guidelines on Claims to Refugee Status based on Sexual Orientation and/or Gender Identity within the context of Article 1A(2) of the 1951 Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees (2012) (providing substantive and procedural guidance on the determination of refugee status of individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity)
UNHCR, Discussion Paper, The Protection of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Asylum-Seekers and Refugees (2010) (highlighting protection gaps for LGBTI asylum-seekers and refugees at various stages of the displacement cycle and describing issues that are unique to LGBTI asylum-seekers)
UNHCR Guidance Note on Refugee Claims Relating to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (2008) (focusing on developments in the analysis and interpretation of sexual orientation and gender identity issues in the refugee law context)
Bringas-Rodriguez v. Lynch, UNHCR Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Petitioner’s Petition for Panel Rehearing or Rehearing En Banc (2016) (articulating UNHCR’s view that evidence of improved country conditions for LGBTI individuals does not suffice to reject an asylum claim)
UNHCR Intervention before the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in the case of HJ (Iran) and HT (Cameroon) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department (2010) (articulating UNHCR’s view that asylum-applicants can not be expected to avoid persecution by hiding or denying the characteristics and identity for which they fear persecution)
UNHCR Report, Women on the Run: First-Hand Accounts of Refugees Fleeing El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico (2015) (examining why women are fleeing the Northern Triangle of Central America and Mexico in search of protection)
UNHCR Report, Children on the Run: Unaccompanied Children Leaving Central America and Mexico and the Need for International Protection (examining why unaccompanied children are fleeing the Northern Triangle of Central America and Mexico)