Members of Worcester LGBT have urged the government to take immediate action to protect members of their community from the unique risks and challenges faced in Syria.
The campaign group has claimed asylum seekers in Worcester, who face persecution and violence in their homeland due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, have been met with uninformed decision-making when their claims are assessed.
This comes after last month’s decision to pause verdicts on asylum claims from Syria as the government assesses the situation following the fall of Assad’s regime.
READ MORE- Crash on A449 Ombersley Road, Hawford: Driver in hospital
READ MORE- Met Office: new snow and ice weather warning for Worcester
A spokesperson for Worcester LGBT told the Worcester News: “Our concerns stem from the Home Office’s persistent failure to adhere to its own policies and guidelines, as well as its obligations under international and domestic law.
“We have observed systemic failures in the handling of Syrian asylum claims, including insufficient training for Home Office officials, inadequate country information, unacceptable delays, and a lack of transparency.
“We believe those in the LGBT+ community are particularly negatively impacted by these failures, as they face unique risks and challenges in Syria, including persecution and violence due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“Despite the UK’s obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, the Home Office has failed to provide adequate protection to these individuals.”
The spokesperson added the group has encountered cases in Worcester where LGBT+ people have been forced to wait for extended periods for their claims to be processed, only to be met with inadequate and uninformed decision-making.
They further claimed they had seen people who have been denied asylum due to a lack of understanding of the specific risks faced by LGBT+ individuals in Syria.
The spokesperson added: “Our emotions regarding this situation are ones of deep concern and frustration.
What are your thoughts? You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here. Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.
“We are compelled to speak out against the injustices faced by LGBT+ asylum seekers, and we urge the Home Office to take immediate action to address these systemic failures.”
The group feels to make the asylum system more humane and fair, the Home Office provides adequate training for its officials, updates its country information, reduces delays in processing claims, and increases transparency in its decision-making.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Caseworkers are trained sufficiently to ensure claims made based on LGBTQI+ issues are properly considered, decisions are sound, and that protection is granted to those who genuinely need it.”