Latefa Guemar, Gender Institute Visiting Fellow
-
Wednesday 27 February 2013
-
3.30-4.30pm
-
Room STC.S421, St. Clements, LSE
-
Chaired by Professor Anne Phillips
Open to all - no booking required.
Abstract
This presentation deals with the criticisms from feminist scholars of the 1951 UN Convention which is the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, what their rights are and the legal obligations of states toward refugees. The position presented here is that the Convention does not specifically mention gender-based persecution as a criterion under which an asylum claimant can be granted refugee status. While some feminist critics have indeed suggested that gender should be added as a “sixth ground” of persecution mentioned in the convention, others argue that the spirit of the convention is already based on the fundamental principles of equality and non-discrimination, drawing on United Nations human rights instruments. This latter view is based on the premise that adding sex or gender as a “sixth ground” to the existing framework might lead to a risk that “gender” will be seen as separate from and therefore not treated as intrinsic to each of the five existing grounds.
These divergent points of view are examined through a discussion which offers a theoretical and legal update on the interpretation of women’s experiences in the UK asylum determination process, supported with reference to relevant case studies.
It also appraises the consequences of gendered discrimination for women and the ways in which asylum claims made on this basis could best be approached, suggesting that, in order to respond correctly to such claims, policy makers should be aware of the political significance of gender and of women’s sexualities.
Latefa has kindly made her presentation and list of citations available for download.
Biography
Latefa Guemar is visiting fellow at the LSE Gender Institute. She was forced to leave Algeria following personal attacks on her family as a result of her husband’s work as a journalist. Having received refugee status in the UK in 2004, Latefa has had to re-orient her study and has undertaken an MSc on Population Movement and Policy at Swansea University and is currently studying PhD in the same field. Latefa has made an important contribution to the recent (2011) review of gender / women's issues in Country of Origin information for making decision on asylum applications; Latefa has also undertaken research on the conduct of asylum interviews at UKBA looking at the range of issues , including gender, sexuality, religion, and age, which might impact upon the ability of asylum applicants to discuss their experiences; On the impact of forced migration on women's mental health; On the decision making of asylum seekers to come in the UK . Her PhD is on Women of the New Algerian Diaspora: Online Discourse, Social Consciousness and Political Engagement. Latefa is also accredited OISC Level 1&2 immigration advisor and has extensive experience supporting women in their asylum applications . Latefa has a particular interest in gender issues in forced migration, Diasporas and identities. She is now a research associate for the Centre of Migration Policy Research at Swansea University and has recently been appointed Visiting Fellow at the LSE, Gender Institute.