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Gender Sensitivity in Asylum Interviews

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Summary

WORKSHOP: ‘GENDER SENSITIVITY IN ASYLUM INTERVIEWS’ 

Research and experience show that gender-sensitive asylum interviewing is critical for women and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) to feel able to give a full account of the reasons for their claim. Without this, there is a risk of poor communication, re-traumatisation, misunderstanding, failure to collect relevant evidence and – consequently – an unfair decision. Due to limited guidance[1] and failure to implement existing guidance, evidence suggests that many claimants do not have a good experience at their interview.[2]

To support improved understanding and good practice, WiRL held its second participatory workshop in which experts from academia and the field shared knowledge and provided guidance based on their own experience as the basis for interactive work with participants. This workshop was for advocates and caseworkers who work with asylum-seeking and refugee women and survivors of GBV, women with lived experience of the asylum interview process, researchers, decision-makers and campaigners.

The first part of the session was focussed on ‘Interviewing and decision making’. Lore Roels, PhD Candidate on misconceptions in gender-related asylum and non-refoulement procedures, presented on ‘The use of rape myths and resulting victim-blaming mechanisms in asylum interviews and decisions on the grounds of SGBV’. Jasmin Lilian Diab, scholar and expert on migration, gender and conflict studies, then spoke about ‘Trauma-informed participatory approaches to interviewing GBV survivors’. Giulia Cragnolini, independent expert on migration and asylum, shared ‘Gender-sensitive interviews in refugee status determination and beyond: the PEACE model and using dialogue in interviews’ and a case study for group discussion.

You can see the Facilitators’ full biographies here

Lore Roels’ presentation

Giulia Cragnolini presentation

If you are interested in the topic of gender-sensitivity in asylum interviews you might be interested in the following resources:

Rape Mythology

Ethical Considerations and Trauma-Informed Approaches

UNHCR Guidelines

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and  Conducting Interviews Workbook,Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in Forced Displacement and Migration,  September 2012, at: Workbook-Modules-08-09-2021.pdf

 

 

[1] Hungarian Helsinki Committee. (2015) Credibility Assessment in Asylum Procedures – A Multidisciplinary Training Manual, Vol 2; UNHCR. (2005) Ensuring Gender Sensitivity in the Context of Refugee Status Determination and Resettlement. Module 2 (Resource Package) https://www.refworld.org/reference/manuals/unhcr/2005/en/40043.

[2] Bögner, D., Brewin, C., & Herlihy, J. (2010). Refugees’ Experiences of Home Office Interviews: A Qualitative Study on the Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 36(3), 519–535.