The Council of Europe organised an event to promote the protection of human rights of LGBTI persons in asylum field, in partnership with the National Institute of Justice, the General Inspectorate for Migration, and UNHCR Moldova.
During the activity the participants discussed the key challenges and risks faced by LGBTI people and how to provide protection and support when they seek asylum in their country, in line with applicable international refugee law and European human rights standards, including the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (B and C v Switzerland). It was stressed that LGBTI persons often escape from life-threatening circumstances shaped by criminalisation, violence, family or community rejection and denial of fundamental human rights and seek asylum in another country for safety and protection.
The event also provided a platform for exchanges on special procedural guarantees for fair examination of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC)-based asylum claims and shared good practices from other European countries on ensuring access of LGBTI asylum seekers to relevant services and support.
As part of the session, the Council of Europe also launched its HELP course on “LGBTI persons in the Asylum Procedure” with its national adaptation into Moldovan legal framework. For the next four weeks, over 40 professionals will participate in this online training, supervised by a national tutor to expand their understanding on key concepts about SOGIESC-based discrimination and violence, LGBTI asylum seekers’ vulnerabilities and needs, and their substantive and procedural rights in the asylum and reception contexts. Providing peer exchanges, guidance and rich body of resources, the training programme will strengthen authorities’ capacities to apply gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches when assessing asylum claims and effectively protect the rights of LGBTI asylum seekers in Moldova.
The e-learning HELP course is implemented by the European Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP), in cooperation with the National Institute of Justice of the Republic of Moldova.
This event is organised within the framework of the following Council of Europe projects: “Promoting Human Rights and Equality for LGBTI persons-IV”, “Strengthening the human rights protection of refugees and migrants in the Republic of Moldova - Phase 2” and “Enhancing Diversity and Equality in the Republic of Moldova – phase II".
