Posted by Melanie Nathan, October 17, 2013.
San Francisco, 16 October 2013 – Europe’s leading civil society network for refugees accepted its first LGBTI member, last week. ORAM (Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration) – is proud to announce that the European Council of Refugees & Exiles (ECRE) Board has voted to accept ORAM into full membership. Among 81 refugee organizations across 37 countries, ORAM is the only ECRE member dedicated exclusively to advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) refugees.
This development paves the way for ORAM to work with European partners to inform policymakers on effective handling of LGBTI refugee claims, promote sensible LGBTI asylum policy, and promote more effective training on LGBTI asylum adjudication.
“Europe is an extremely important region for LGBTI asylum seekers,” said ORAM Executive Director Neil Grungras. “We estimate the overwhelming majority of asylum seekers worldwide seek protection in Europe’s 38 countries.” Each year thousands of asylum seekers in Europe are either fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity, or identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex. The compassion and respect with which they’re treated once they enter the global protection system as refugees or asylees varies widely. ORAM is determined to help adjudication of LGBTI asylum cases in Europe become the most sophisticated and accurate in the world.
About ORAM
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, ORAM – Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration, is the leading global advocate for people fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. ORAM increases global support for thousands of refugees and asylum seekers through advocacy and education, and provides guidance and expertise to institutions and groups working with LGBTI refugees, asylees, and asylum seekers. Learn more at www.oraminternational.org.
Neil Grungras, Founder of Oram with Melanie Nathan at San Francisco Pride
Latest publication
“Blind Alleys: The Unseen Struggles of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Urban Refugees in Mexico, Uganda and South Africa” is available at: www.oraminternational.org/en/publications
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