On Wednesday 11th October, we launched a new research report exploring the experiences of stateless Kurds from Syria in the UK asylum process.
Webinar overview
Being stateless and being a refugee are distinct situations, but some refugees are also stateless. Some people have fled their home country due to persecution but they are not recognised as nationals of that (or any other) country. While research has been conducted on the situation of stateless refugees under international law, very little has been published on the experiences of stateless asylum seekers within asylum procedures.
This webinar presents research from a new report by Thomas McGee which will be published by ENS in October. The report explores the experiences of stateless Kurds from Syria in the UK asylum process. This research finds that stateless asylum seekers can experience unique challenges proving their country of origin, which poses particular challenges for stateless asylum seekers themselves, but also for decision makers considering their asylum claims. Attendees also heard from other experts on the relevance of these findings for wider statelessness law and policy, as well as its regional implications and impact on broader work on Country of Origin Information (COI).
The webinar is aimed at all actors interested in, working on, or affected by statelessness and asylum in the UK and elsewhere. It is an opportunity to learn more about the specific deficiencies in asylum decision-making when it comes to stateless refugees, and what needs to change at the legal and policy level.
Agenda
11:00-11:05 Nina Murray (ENS), Welcome & Introductions
11:05-11:25 Presentation by Thomas McGee (Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, University of Melbourne Law School & MENA Statelessness Network [Hawiati])
11:25-11:35 Presentation by Cynthia Orchard (Consultant on migration, asylum, and nationality issues and ENS Advisory Committee Member)
11:35-11:45 Presentation by Fatima Ali, Programme Manager, Thematic Research at Asylos
11:45-12:00 Q&A
