International recommendation

Gender-based asylum claims

Issue date:
Human rights body:
Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO)
Theme:
Violence against women, girls and partners
Populations of concern:
Asylum seekers and refugeesWomen
Relevant Istanbul Convention articles:
Art. 60 – Gender-based asylum claimsArt. 61 – Non-refoulement
Source:
GREVIO Baseline Evaluation Report on legislative and other measures giving effect to the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Norway)

Recommended measures (2)

Measure
Measure types:
Institutions, practices and guidelinesTraining and capacity building
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Justice and Public Security

Accommodation

55. GREVIO urges the Norwegian authorities to ensure that vulnerability, particularly related to sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence against women, is formally assessed and identified at the earliest possible opportunity within the asylum procedure to inform decisions relating to accommodation and support services and to ensure procedural fairness and gender sensitivity in the conduct of asylum interviews.
56. GREVIO urges the Norwegian authorities to ensure that all reception centre staff are fully trained in all forms of gender-based violence against women and gender sensitivity and that the UDI’s guidelines relevant to the protection of women and girls within reception centres are properly
implemented.
57. GREVIO further encourages the Norwegian authorities to ensure the adequate quality of legal representation for women asylum seekers throughout the asylum application process, starting from the first interview.

Measure
Measure type:
Institutions, practices and guidelines
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Justice and Public Security

Non-refoulement

58. GREVIO encourages the Norwegian authorities to ensure that it acts in full compliance with the requirements of Article 61 of the Istanbul Convention by duly applying the non-refoulment principle (paragraph