Joint civil society statement on the Supreme Court ruling on the Rwanda Plan
We are relieved today that the Supreme Court has made the right decision and declared that Rwanda is not a safe country for this government to send people needing safety. The Rwanda plan was always cruel and immoral. We urge the Government to immediately abandon such plans with Rwanda or with any other country, and instead protect the rights of people who have come to our country in search of sanctuary.
While we welcome the decision today, we remain concerned by this Government’s overall treatment of people who move to this country. We are alarmed by this Government’s continuous efforts to detain and forcibly send people to countries where they may not know anyone, especially if it puts them at risk of harm and human rights violations. We know that as a community we are compassionate and welcoming, and we need immigration policies that are rooted in that same care, compassion, and respect for human rights. We call on everyone to stand up for the rights of people seeking sanctuary, regardless of where they come from or how they travel here.
Signed (as of 10.30 am Wednesday 15 November 2023)
- Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)
- BARAC UK
- Kalayaan
- Liberty
- Doctors of the World UK
- Welsh Refugee Council
- Medical Justice
- Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX)
- Rainbow Migration
- Bail for Immigration Detainees
- Just Fair
- René Cassin, the Jewish voice for human rights
- After Exploitation
- Freedom from Torture
- Latin American Women's Rights Service (LAWRS)
- North Wales Regional Equality Network
- Young Roots
- Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU)
- Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees (AVID)
- Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT UK)
- Humans for Rights Network
- Hibiscus Initiatives
- Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ)
- Scottish Refugee Council
- Helen Bamber Foundation
- Asylum Aid
- The William Gomes Podcast
- Routes Collective
- New Citizens' Gateway
- CARAS
- West London Welcome
- Student Action for Refugees (STAR)
- Afghan Association Paiwand
- RefuAid
- IMIX
- Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group
- Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN)
- Our Second Home
- Samphire
- Care4Calais
- St Augustine's Centre, Halifax
- Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit
- Good Chance Theatre
- The Runnymede Trust
- Hope at Home
- Voices in Exile
- Refugee Support Group (Berkshire)
- Ice and Fire Theatre
- Waging Peace
- Reading City of Sanctuary
- forRefugees
- Cambridge Convoy Refugee Action Group
- Hastings Supports Refugees
- Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign
- Hastings Community of Sanctuary
- Herts for Refugees
- City of Sanctuary UK
- Bristol Refugee Rights
- Da'aro Youth Project
- Reunite Families UK
- Migrants' Rights Network
- Public Law Project
- Praxis
- Refugee Action
- Together with Migrant Children
- JRS UK (Jesuit Refugee Service)
- Here for Good
- Refugee Council
- the3million
- Open Rights Group
- National AIDS Trust
- Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG)
- Asylum Matters
- HIAS+JCORE
- People in Motion
- Refugee and Migrant Centre (West Midlands)
- RAMFEL
- Refugee Women Connect
- Voices Network
- Micro Rainbow
- LGBT Health and Wellbeing (Scotland)
- The VOICES Network
- Mermaids
- HOPE not hate
- African Rainbow Family
- Manchester Migrant Solidarity
- Safe Passage
- Birmingham City of Sanctuary
- Birmingham Schools of Sanctuary
- Haringey Welcome
- House of Rainbow CIC
- Asylum Welcome
- Anti-Slavery International
- LGBT Foundation
- Migrants Organise
- Hope and Aid Direct
- Inclusive Mosque Initiative
- Alawia SBI
- JustRight Scotland
- Kanlungan Filipino Consortium
- Time To Be Out
- TransActual
- Durham Visitors Group
- Lewes Organisation in Support of Refugees & Asylum Seekers
- RefYouMe
- Reclaim The Sea
- Big Leaf Foundation
- Freedom United
- Muslim Council of Britain
- Global Link
- Lesbian Asylum Support Sheffield
- Asylum Support Appeals Project
- Gendered Intelligence
- Migrant Voice
- Stand For All
- Migration Justice Project, Law Centre NI
- NACCOM
- Refugee Legal Support
- South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice
- Choose Love
- Refugee and Migrants Forum of Essex and London
- Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network
- Nottingham Arimathea Trust
- Govan Community Project
- Simon Community Scotland
- Welcome Churches
- The Pickwell Foundation
- Refugees at Home
- Stonewall
- Sahir House
- Southeast and East Asian Centre (SEEAC)
- Room to Heal
Joint Statement: LGBTQI+ people seeking safety here will not be sent to Rwanda
Joint statement: Rainbow Migration and Micro Rainbow
We are ecstatic that this government’s cruel plan to send people seeking asylum to Rwanda has been found unlawful by the Supreme Court. This is a huge victory for kindness and common decency.
“This is a day for national celebration. The judges at the UK’s highest court have stopped this trade in humans and many people in the UK who have fled unimaginable horrors can breathe a sigh of relief”, said Leila Zadeh, Executive Director at Rainbow Migration.
"Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman's commitment to pushing ahead with the Rwanda plan risked turning the UK into a country famous for its cruel policies and attitudes towards people who need safety. We, and everyone we work with, are very happy that it has finally been found unlawful. Our beneficiaries can take a breath of relief, but they are still not safe. Now is the time to build a humane and dignified immigration system that we can all be proud of". Sebastian Rocca, Micro Rainbow CEO
For many months since it was first announced back in April 2022, we have repeatedly warned that Rwanda is a country where LGBTQI+ people are subjected to discrimination, violence and abuse.
The UK government’s own website states that LGBT people in Rwanda are abused, including by local authorities. The situation for LGBTQI+ people in Rwanda is so poor that people have sought asylum in the UK based on their sexual orientation.
There is widespread evidence of ill-treatment and abuse faced by LGBTQI+ people in Rwanda - It’s extremely concerning that this government is willing to send LGBTQI+ people who have fled life-threatening situations in their home countries and sought safety and protection in the UK to another country where they would be in danger.
Innocent Uwimana, a gay man who grew up in Rwanda and came to the UK twenty years ago wrote about his struggles back home: “Growing up, I got bullied a lot because I was gay, the bullying spilled over into violence; I was terrified of going to school. When I started secondary school, it was even worse. I was physically abused by other students because they perceived me as gay. Having experienced the discrimination faced by LGBTQI+ people, I am shocked that the UK would deport people from our community there”.
Innocent also talked to LGBTQI+ activists based in Rwanda, who expressed their surprise and disbelief in hearing about the UK government’s plan: “Most LGBTQI+ people want to leave Rwanda. They want to live in a place where they can be free and themselves. So why would the UK government think it is safe to send LGBTQI+ people there?”
LGBTQI+ people could still be sent to other unsafe countries
This decision also means that the government has nowhere to systematically send people seeking asylum to, as this government currently has no other return agreements with other countries.
However, the recently passed Illegal Migration Act lists other countries where people could be sent to have their claims processed. Many of these so-called ‘safe’ countries are dangerous for LGBTQI+ people.
This list includes Ghana as deemed safe for men, but in 2021 nine people from Ghana were granted refugee status in the UK based on their sexual orientation. A year ago, Adams, a bisexual man from Ghana that Rainbow Migration supported was granted asylum. He was violently attacked in the street on several occasions. When he got to the UK, he got the news that his partner had been killed back home.
Last week, this government announced it wanted to add India to the list of countries deemed safe. However in 2022, thirteen people from India were granted asylum in the UK *based on their sexual orientation. Nisha, a trans woman from India had to escape from India after her parents locked her in the house and forced her to undergo conversion practices.
The Illegal Migration Act also makes it significantly more likely that LGBTQI+ people who come here will be detained, with fewer safeguards and for a minimum of 28 days.
With the announcement of a new Home Secretary, it’s time for a change of direction: We call on this government to get in line with public sentiment, to ditch their heartless asylum policies and to create a more humane and compassionate asylum system so that people can rebuild their lives in safety.
*The experimental statistics show the number of asylum claims where sexual orientation was raised as a basis, or part of the basis, of the claim
We are hiring: Legal and Support Services Assistant
***THIS RECRUITMENT HAS NOW CLOSED***
We are recruiting for a Legal and Support Services Assistant to act as a first point of contact for the charity and assist the legal and support services teams.
We are looking for a Legal and Support Services Assistant to help ensure smooth delivery and monitoring of our services. You will be the first point of contact for new queries and play a key role in providing the information needed and allocating to the relevant services.
This role will receive full training and support as required to deliver your responsibilities, which include the following:
- Provide admin support for the legal and support services teams
- Answer calls and emails
- Make appointments for service users or signpost them to other organisations
- Organise legal advice sessions for asylum and partnership service users
- Input data onto our Salesforce database
- Write minutes for legal and support service team meetings
- Assist with organising and running events (e.g. Pride, service user Christmas party)
- Assist with preparations for training and presentations
Rainbow Migration’s vision is that LGBTQI+ people can settle in the UK and lead fulfilling lives. Our values are:
- Safety: We believe everyone should be safe from persecution and safe to be themselves. We strive to create a safe workplace culture, and we place importance on the wellbeing of everyone involved with Rainbow Migration.
- Integrity: We are thorough and honest in everything we do, and we take responsibility for our actions. We want to be accountable to our communities and those who support us.
- Belonging: We welcome and include all LGBTQI+ people, and we celebrate and value their range of experience in terms of gender, religion, race, age, disability status and class. We try to remove obstacles to participation, champion equality and promote a sense of family or home through our services.
- Respect: We believe that every person is equal and deserves the same level of courtesy, care, and attention. We respect the rights, wishes and feelings of our service users, and campaign for their rights to be respected as they go through the asylum and immigration system.
At Rainbow Migration, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status – simple, we consider all qualified applicants, consistent with any legal requirements.
We welcome applications from candidates with lived experience of going through the UK asylum or immigration system or who have been subject to immigration control, and also people of colour who are currently underrepresented among our staff. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if they meet the necessary criteria in the person specification.
Owing to the nature of the work, the successful applicant the successful applicant will be required at the point of conditional job offer to disclose all unspent criminal records and subsequently to undergo a basic DBS check.
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week). Working part-time or job-sharing will be considered. Occasional work in the evenings and at weekends may be required but with plenty of notice. Rainbow Migration encourages staff to maintain a good work life balance and has a TOIL system in place.
Salary: Starting at £22,789 with potential annual step increases up to £25,648 (pro rata if working part time), plus statutory employer’s pension contribution. In addition to an annual step increase, the trustees consider giving a separate inflationary increase every April.
Location: Rainbow Migration’s offices are based in Borough, Central London. This role will have an office-based contract but the postholder can choose to work from home for part of the week in agreement with their line manager and Executive Director. You must be available to work from our offices in London when necessary. The successful candidate would also be welcome to work from the office full-time if that is their preference. At the time of posting this advert, none of our staff are going into the office every day. There might also be occasional travel outside London with plenty of notice. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Annual leave: 25 days per year rising after 24 months by 1 day after each year of service to maximum of 28 days per year (pro rata if working part-time)
Wellbeing: We offer up to 2 days of wellbeing leave to be taken at short notice in each calendar year. One-to-one clinical supervision is also available for this role.
How to apply:
Please read the job description and person specification.
Closing date: 10 am, 28 November 2023
Interview dates: TBC in December
Please read the job description and person specification. If you have any questions about the role or would like to find out more before applying, then you can contact the line manager via recruitment@rainbowmigration.org.uk.
Please send:
1. Your CV
2. A written statement (max 1,000 words), video or audio recording (max 8 minutes)
3. Optional: a completed monitoring form to recruitment@rainbowmigration.org.uk.
In your statement, please:
1. Give examples of how you meet the person specification. In addition to what is on your CV, we want to hear about any relevant skills and experience that demonstrate you meet the necessary criteria for the role, and if you meet any of the advantageous criteria. Skills and experience could be from training, volunteering, interests or life experience
2. Confirm if you wish to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 (physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ effect on your ability to do normal daily activities)
3. State how many hours a week you wish to work and if you have a preferred pattern, or if you are applying as part of a job-share
By submitting an application, you:
1. Confirm that you have the right to work in the UK and will produce the necessary documentation if you are offered this post
2. Declare that to the best of your knowledge and belief, the information provided with your application is true and correct and that you understand that any false information or statement given will justify the dismissal from Rainbow Migration if appointed
3. Accept that, if successful, you will be required to disclose all unspent criminal records at the point of conditional job and subsequently to undergo a basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network, which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience.
If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please complete this form to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.
Privacy notice
If you apply for this role the information you provide will be processed according to Rainbow Migration's privacy policy. Rainbow Migration will not share your information with any third parties unless part of the recruitment process or are legally required to do so. By applying, you are permitting Rainbow Migration to access and use the information for recruitment purposes. Rainbow Migration will store your data for 12 months after the conclusion of the recruitment campaign. Monitoring information is kept separately and is pseudonymised to avoid identification of applicants, is amalgamated for statistical purposes and the original data is then deleted after 6 months.
A video guide to intersex asylum claims
We have put together a new video guide for Intersex people who are going through the asylum process in the UK. The video includes advice about writing your statement for your claim, preparing for the Home Office interview, talking about your medical history, and more.
The video features British Sign Language interpretation, and you can also watch it with subtitles of 11 different languages, available via the playlists.
We hope you find the video helpful!
LGBTQI+ people shouldn't be moved to a floating prison
As this government starts moving people seeking protection back to a floating prison we say it loud and clear again: Housing people in prison-like conditions is cruel and risks further traumatising people who have had to flee unimaginable dangers and life-threatening situations.
Some of the LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum that we support have already started receiving letters confirming their move in the coming days, which is extremely concerning.
We know that LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum are particularly at risk of harm and can face serious issues when forced to live in overcrowded conditions. People will have limited access to support and they will also not be free to move around the port, so conditions on the barge are very similar to being in prison or immigration detention.
In detention, LGBTQI+ people are likely to experience discrimination and harassment from other people who can hold LGBTQI-phobic views. Trans people can be at even greater risk of abuse.
The people that we work with are worried about being moved to the barge, and are feeling extremely anxious about this possibility and the impact it would have on them. We ask that this government commits to housing LGBTQI+ people in suitable accommodation in the community and safeguarded from harm while they seek to rebuild their lives in safety here.
Enough: Trans people are people too
We have come together with LGBTQI+ organisations and allies across the country to say enough! Trans people are people too.
Full statement from LGBT Consortium:
We cannot allow our communities, particularly our Trans and Intersex communities, to be attacked in such inhumane and degrading ways as we have seen during the Conservative Party Conference over the last week.
Rather than focusing on pressing issues affecting everyone, such as the cost of living, the climate crisis or getting timely healthcare, senior Government ministers, including the Prime Minister, sought to denigrate Trans and Intersex people, and increase the barriers they already face to accessing essential services and support. We are deeply concerned at the nature and tone of these remarks and policies.
Everyone has a right to live with dignity, free from discrimination and abuse, and to play an integral part in their local communities. That is the principle behind the Equality Act, which up until now has been supported by all parties. Government’s responsibility is to all its citizens and it should be working to proactively tackle life-limiting inequalities so that Trans people are safe to live their lives, respected and valued in society, and supported to thrive in what they do.
However, Trans and Intersex people and communities are being let down by a Government that wants to deny their existence and their safety.
For far too long now, we have seen Trans people and communities used in a culture war, mocked by those who are in positions of power, and inaccurately portrayed as a threat to others. People who support Trans people as friends, colleagues and family members are called ‘bullies’, and those questioning the Government’s new narrative in this area are removed from conversations. Announcements like the exclusion of Trans men and women from single-sex wards are made despite the NHS reporting no evidence of abuse by Trans people, and quite possibly with no consultation with those involved in providing or receiving those services. This suggests to the wider public that it is legitimate and appropriate to undertake harassment of Trans people and communities.
We call upon LGBT+ people, friends, allies, family members, businesses and voluntary sector organisations to stand up and say enough. Enough of erasing and attacking some of the most marginalised people and communities in our society, and putting the health, safety and lives of Trans people at risk. Trans people, and all LGBT+ people, are an asset to our country. Reducing inequalities should be our collective goal. If the Government can target one group of innocent people, and block them from necessary services, then it can do the same to anyone else.
Letter to the PM: Respect the lives of LGBTQI+ people and women seeking asylum in the UK
Together with 245 other organisations, we’ve joined Stonewall in a powerful display of solidarity, following comments by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, last week.
The coalition, including organisations such as Amnesty, Oxfam, End Violence Against Women Coalition, Refugee Council and Women For Refugee Women, has written to UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to protecting LGBTQI+ people and women around the world.
Many of the signatories work daily with LGBTQI+ and women refugees, and ‘bear witness to their scars from being persecuted’.
The letter rejects Suella Braverman’s claim that LGBTQI+ people and women are misusing their identities to make false claims, and speaks of regret that the Home Secretary’s selective use of stats that ‘have nothing to do with genuine concern or respect for international law, refugees or their protection.’
Robbie de Santos, Director of External Affairs at Stonewall, said: “We all deserve a government with the compassion and will to protect the most vulnerable in society. Not only is the incumbent UK Government failing LGBTQ+ people domestically, with inaction on rising hate crime, but they are also failing the international community by indicated their disdain for international law – in the process bringing great shame on party and country.”
Steve Valdez-Symonds, Refugee and Migrant Rights Director at Amnesty International UK, said: “The Home Secretary’s verbal attack on the rights of LGBTQ+ and women refugees is deplorable. Not only did she once again stir utterly false prejudices against people seeking asylum, she also targeted refugees who often continue to face grave insecurity, hostility and violence – even long after escaping persecution and conflict. Ministers must stop their constant scapegoating and put their energy into repairing the utter wreckage they have made of the asylum system.”
Alphonsine Kabagado, Director, Women For Refugee Women, said: “We strongly condemn Suella Braverman’s speech last week – which was dangerous, inflammatory and racist. Not only did her claims stoke hatred and fear, they were untrue. To be granted asylum in the UK, you must prove a well-founded fear of persecution. Her suggestion that people lie about their identities to make false claims for protection, or that it is possible to be granted asylum based on discrimination alone, is unfounded. We know from our work supporting refugee and asylum-seeking women, including LGBTQ+ women, that many face persecution including torture, gender-based violence, sexual violence, trafficking and rape.
Braverman’s speech was also hypocritical. The Government has repeatedly stated its commitment to tackling violence against women and supporting survivors of such violence, as well as to supporting LGBTQ+ people. Yet when it comes to women or LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum in the UK, it seems these commitments do not apply. Instead of whipping up hatred, fear, and division against women and LGBTQ+ people seeking safety, the Government should treat them with compassion and kindness. How we treat people is who we are; the Government’s hostility does not represent us.”
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said: “Turning our backs on LGBTQ+ people and suggesting they are undeserving of a fair hearing in the asylum system is immoral.
Of the small number of people who come to the UK claiming asylum based on their sexual orientation, the majority are recognised as having a well-founded fear of persecution and are given refugee protection. We know from our work how traumatised they often are – what they need is support to restart their lives in safety, rather than hostility and disbelief.
The Refugee Convention’s fundamental purpose is to offer protection to those who need it, based on shared global values of humanity and fairness. Abandoning these values does not reflect who we are as a country.”
Leila Zadeh, CEO, Rainbow Migration, said: “Across the world there are LGBTQI+ people experiencing violence and persecution simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Around 70 countries still criminalise same-sex relations, and in some places the picture is getting worse.
Many LGBTQI+ people that we support every day tell us how they faced life-threatening situations back home. For example, Olu, a lesbian from Nigeria had to run for her life when her husband found out she was a lesbian and nearly killed her, or Adams was violently attacked in the street on several occasions by members of his community in Ghana because he was bisexual.
We all want to live somewhere where we can be safe and live fulfilling lives and most of us welcome people who are fleeing for their lives. We ask that the PM gets in line with public sentiment and commits to the protection of the rights of LGBTQ+ people seeking safety in the UK.”
Our response to the Home Secretary who thinks "being gay isn't reason enough for asylum"
We are appalled to hear that the Home Secretary is questioning the legitimacy of LGBTQI+ people claiming asylum in the UK. Many LGBTQI+ people that we support every day tell us how they faced life-threatening situations back home.
For example, we have worked with Adams, who was violently attacked in the street on several occasions by members of his community in Ghana because he was bisexual, and his partner was killed. We also supported Miki whose brother threatened to kill him when he came out as a gay man in Azerbaijan.
The government’s own statistics suggest that only 2% of all asylum claims in 2022 included sexual orientation as a reason for needing protection. It is already the case that LGBTQI+ people must face a well-founded fear of persecution to qualify for refugee protection in the UK.
They also face the enormous challenge of having to “prove” their sexual orientation or gender identity to get refugee status.
Most of us welcome refugees and want to help people who are fleeing for their lives. The Home Secretary should stop her cruel rhetoric and instead create an asylum system that treats people with dignity and compassion.
"To have our human rights respected and protected has changed so many lives forever."
To celebrate our 30th anniversary, we spoke to many of the people who are an important part of our history. Below, Sasha Taylor told us what the organisation means to her.
My name is Sasha Taylor. I currently live in the UK; I grew up between Guatemala and Mexico, where I volunteered with several organisations as a human rights activist. Thanks to this work I have spent time observing and listening to other people, and seen very closely how difficult, deplorable and unfair life is for an LGBT+ person in those countries. I know this myself through my own personal experiences; I know very well that there is no equality, respect, protection and fulfilment of LGBT+ life and human rights.
Even when I saw, lived and faced very difficult situations, I tried to survive and have a life, but there comes a time in life when the mind, and your dignity and self-respect as a human being are not enough to hold on anymore, and that is what happened to me.
Being a constant victim of sexual harassment, discrimination, physical and verbal aggression, I had no choice but to flee my country.
“I’d like to celebrate all the support Rainbow Migration gave me so I could settle in the UK, and the impact that has had on me and my life and the lives of so many other people.”
Yet once I left, I was sold and ended up as a victim of human trafficking. I managed to escape and returned to the UK, but I no longer trusted or believed in anyone. It took me days to get the courage to seek help. I eventually contacted the Samaritans, who put me in touch with other organisations, among them Rainbow Migration (then called UKLGIG).
I still remember the day of my first appointment. I arrived near the building, it was about half a block away, for a moment I thought about turning back and not going in, I was struggling emotionally, because of everything that had happened to me. I was scared and distrustful of everything and everyone, but something made me not lose faith, I took courage and went in. The receptionist asked me to wait, then a Support Worker picked me up and we went into a small room. She introduced herself; she had a very friendly face. I felt she was very serene and respectful. She asked me what they could do for me. My English was very bad at that time, so we helped each other with a translation application. I introduced myself, I told her what had happened to me, I told her that I was tired of being a victim and that I needed help. I cried and unburdened myself at that moment, because after so long finally someone listened to me.
Since then, I have remained in touch with Rainbow Migration. They helped me with my case, and found me the legal, social, medical and emotional support I needed. Thanks to all that support, today I am here, safe, and with a stable, peaceful and happy life.
I’d like to celebrate all the support Rainbow Migration gave me so I could settle in the UK, and the impact that has had on me and my life and the lives of so many other people. To have our human rights respected and protected has changed so many lives forever.
More Albanian LGB+ people granted asylum despite country considered ‘safe‘ under new Illegal Migration Act
New statistics show that the number of people from Albania that were recognised[1] as being at risk of persecution due to their sexual orientation in the UK in 2022 more than doubled compared to 2021, it went up from five to thirteen people
Albania is one of the countries deemed ‘safe’ under the recently passed Illegal Migration Act. “By granting asylum to LGB Albanians, this government is acknowledging that Albania is a dangerous country for the community, where they can face life-threatening situations”, said Leila Zadeh, Executive Director at Rainbow Migration, and added, “However, when the Illegal Migration Act fully comes into force, LGBTQI+ people could be sent to Albania or any other of the 56 countries that this government considers safe”.
Hamez, a gay man who fled to the UK from Albania explained last year that: “It was very scary to go back to Albania. My family were pressuring me to get married, and when my parents found out that I was gay, my father chased me out of the house with an axe. I had brought shame on my family, and my father began to be physically abusive. I was hiding in the mountains, trying to find a way to escape my village. It is common for people to get beaten up or killed in my country if someone is found out to be gay.”
The statistics also show that the number of LGB people from Nigeria and Ghana that were granted asylum remained steady, 52 and 9 respectively, two countries that are also considered ‘safe’ (in respect of men) under the Illegal Migration Act.
More LGB Ugandans seeking refuge in the UK
According to the statistics, up to 54% of the applications received from Ugandan nationals were LGB applications. Over the last year and a half, we’ve supported more than 20 Ugandan LGBTQI+ people to seek protection here and we are concerned that the discriminatory law that was passed in Uganda a few months ago, under which LGBTQI+ people can face life in prison or even the death penalty, will mean many more will have no choice but to flee Uganda.
The Illegal Migration Act will make it almost impossible for LGBTQI+ Ugandans to find safety in the UK. If they do, they could be detained and later sent to another dangerous country for LGBTQI+ people.
“The inhumane Illegal Migration act should never come into force. Instead, this government should focus on creating a compassionate and caring asylum system that treats people with kindness” said Leila Zadeh.
[1] The experimental statistics show the number of asylum claims where sexual orientation was raised as a basis, or part of the basis, of the claim.