LGBT refugees in Turkey being discussed today

Source: Kaos GL

Issues of LGBT refugees in Turkey, will be discussed at the workshop being held today in Ankara.

Amnesty International Turkey Branch (AITB) is organizing the workshop with the Turkish LGBT group Kaos GL as part of events to mark the International Day Against Homophobia. It is also planned for five other cities in the country including Kayseri, Isparta, Nigde, and Nevsehir.

LGBT refugees will be able participate and tell of their problems first hand. Kaos GL and AITB have been conducting studies on the issue of supporting the refugees for a long time working with Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM), Human Resource Development Foundation (HRDF), Positive Life Association (PYD), and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT).

The workshop aims to listen to their problems, analyse the problems and determine the strategies to be developed on this subject. It is planned to prepare a report on the deduction of ’sexual orientation’ expression from the Draft Law on Foreigners and International Asylum and send it to the relevant institutions.

Mazlum-Der, a member of the Coordination of Refugee Rights, Human Rights Research Association (İHAD), the Helsinki Citizens Assembly (HCA), the Human Rights Agenda Association (İHGD), the refugee-Der, the Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Joint Platform for Human Rights (IHOP) are also attending the workshop.

Problems of LGBT refugees in the workshop, the studies in this area and of a draft Law on Foreigners and the International Assessment of LGBT refugees in discussions carried out topics.

HT: Gay Middle East