Mar31
Merging Sociology and Law: How Social Construction of Identity May Explain Differing Treatment of Women and Gay People as Social Groups in Refugee Law
March 31, 2018
The core differences in the social construction of gender and sexual orientation may explain the differing treatment of women and gay people in refugee law. Women are not seen as distinct individuals, while gay individuals' identities are not merged with a spouse or children.
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Feb23
Mexico and U.S. Still Lock Up Central American Refugees, but Make Moves Towards Ending Detention
United States, Mexico, February 23, 2018
In July 2014, the U.S. joined a new UNHCR initiative called “Global Strategy - Beyond Detention 2014-2019” (“Global Strategy”). The Global Strategy launched in 12 target countries, with the following goals: provide alternatives to detention for asylum seekers, improve detention conditions where detention is necessary, and end child detention. For the U.S. and its fellow signatory Mexico, the Global Strategy began at the peak of a humanitarian crisis.
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Dec9
Unsafe Third Country: Greek Court Returns Syrian Refugees to Turkey
Turkey, Greece, December 9, 2017
A recent decision by the highest Greek administrative court held that Syrians in Greece can be safely returned to Turkey in accordance with the safe third country doctrine. With evidence pointing to the contrary, this decision may open the doors to Greece and the EU violating European law and the Refugee Convention.
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Nov13
Protection in Word But Not in Practice: How Resettlement Countries are Failing LGBTI Refugees
Canada, Chechnya, Uzbekistan, Russia, November 13, 2017
Since LGBTI refugees face particular challenges because of the widespread animosity towards individuals with this immutable characteristic, resettlement countries should follow Canada’s lead and welcome LGBTI refugees currently suffering around the world.
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Oct31
Israeli Supreme Court Rules: Taxation and Employment Restrictions on Employers of “foreign workers” Apply to Employers of Asylum Seekers Too
October 31, 2017
The Israeli Supreme Court recently handed down two decisions that would further restrict the employment opportunities of asylum seekers in Israel. In one, the court considered a "foreign worker tax" levied on employers of asylum seekers. The court is the first judiciary in the world to consider the legitimacy of "foreign worker taxes" levied on employers of asylum seekers under the Refugee Convention.
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Oct5
One Year Later: Child Immigration Detention Continues
October 5, 2017
Within the past decade, non-governmental organizations and human rights advocates have increased advocacy efforts to end child immigration detention worldwide. They brought the issue of child immigration detention to sympathetic governments whose initial positive reactions have been followed by lackluster actions. This note explores the worldwide child detention regime and credits state actors for their newfound commitment to addressing child immigration detention. However, actual progress remains overshadowed by States’ continual practice of child immigration detention; the practice continues despite being inconsistent with international law.
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Sep22
Protection Elsewhere – The New Norm of the Common European Asylum System?
EU, Turkey, Greece, Syria, September 22, 2017
Now, over a year after the EU-Turkey deal was signed, the agreement is being employed as a blueprint for the next phase of the Common European Asylum System and is leading to an erosion of respect for international human rights laws and norms.
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Aug6
Understanding “Suffering,” Yet Misconstruing Intentionality: U.S. Compliance and Non-Compliance with the Convention against Torture
United States, August 6, 2017
With respect to the intentionality requirement in the Convention Against Torture, the U.S interpretation of “severe pain or suffering” differs with that of international bodies charged with implementation and norm-setting, putting the U.S. at odds with its international treaty obligations.
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Aug1
The International Non-Refoulement Obligation and a Refugee’s Non-Compliance Under the Australian Migration Act of 1958
Australia, August 1, 2017
The Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal upholds the principle of non-refoulement and refuses to cancel a visa of a refugee who provided false information on visa application.
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Jun18
The Negative Effects of Relying on Inconsistencies to Determine Credibility in Asylum Claims Involving an Initial Omission of Sexual Assault
United States, June 18, 2017
The discovery of inconsistencies is often fatal to an asylum claim because decision makers see inconsistences and assume the asylum seeker is not credible. Sexual assault victims are especially negatively affected by this practice, as their victimhood often leads them to omit a sexual assault early in the asylum process.
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