On April 29, the Council of Europe Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Unit moderated the panel "A European Perspective on COVID-19 and Queer Asylum". The event put into conversation policy makers, academics and civil society representatives to discuss the main challenges faced by LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees in Europe, and the impact of COVID-19 on their lives (often exacerbating the difficulties already in place).
The panel was only the first moment of a full day virtual symposium intended to provide a platform for discussing on the concrete impact of the pandemic on LGBTI refugees, so far largely invisible in discussions around COVID-19. The online event brought together institutions, representatives of civil society, lawyers and judges working on LGBTI asylum and LGBTI+ asylum seekers and refugees.
A big thank you to the organisers, to the panelists and to all the participants!
