Global Roundtable on Protection and Solutions for LGBTIQ+ people in forced displacement UNHCR works to try to protect all LGBTIQ+ refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people and works with partners to provide inclusive services, protect their rights and identify safe options.Ī message from UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi In recent decades, the number of LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers has risen, with most qualifying as 'members of a particular social group' under the 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines the term ‘refugee,’ outlines their rights and sets out the legal obligations of States to protect them. If you need protection or assistance, please consult our UNHCR Help website But even in countries of asylum, they can face stigma and abuse. Many LGBTIQ+ persons have no choice but to seek refuge elsewhere. In certain countries, same-sex relationships are criminalized – sometimes punishable by death. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ+) persons can face discrimination, persecution and violence, sometimes on a daily basis.
