By Janene Pieters
“Asylum seekers often come from countries where, if they go to the police, they are arrested.”
More needs to be done to combat anti-LGBTQ violence in asylum centers in the Netherlands, according to foundation LGBT Asylum Support. The foundation received over 60 reports of discrimination, threats, and violence against asylum seekers from the LGBTQ community since June. In a letter to State Secretary Ankie Broekers-Knol of Justice and Security, the foundation called on the government to intervene.
Recently two asylum seekers from Nigeria were arrested for attacking a lesbian couple living in the asylum center with them. One of the victims was doused with boiling water, leaving her with second degree burns.
LGBT Asylum Support called for separate housing to be created for LGBTQ asylum seekers who don't feel safe in the general shelter.
This idea isn't new. In March 2016, the Tweede Kamer adopted a D66 motion on separate shelter for LGBTQ asylum seekers. And such a department was created in Ter Apel. But in 2019, heterosexual asylum seekers were moved in there due to lack of space, Trouw reports. A spokesperson for the central agency for the reception of asylum seekers COA told the newspaper that there is still too little space in asylum centers for official LGBTQ units. Read more via NL Times