GroundUp
A REPORT released recently by several civil society organisations has found evidence that LGBT refugees are being denied asylum in South Africa despite being “eligible for protection under international and domestic law”.
The authors of the report surveyed denial letters for 67 asylum applicants who had applied for asylum on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI).
The letters were written by 32 Refugee Status Determination Officers (RSDOs) in Cape Town, Musina, Gqeberha and Pretoria between 2010 and 2020.
Amy-Leigh Payne, attorney at the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), summarising the report findings, said that the Refugees Act requires South Africa to extend protection to people who have a well-founded fear of SOGI-based persecution.
LGBT refugees are being denied asylum in South Africa, according to a report.
The report found that Home Affairs officials use sexual and/or gender minorities to justify denials.
It also found the use of derogatory language in official documentation.
A report released on Thursday by several civil society organisations has found evidence that LGBT refugees are being denied asylum in South Africa despite being, “. eligible for protection under international and domestic law”, GroundUp reports.
The authors of the report surveyed denial letters for 67 asylum applicants who had applied for asylum on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI).
Victory for Major Fatima Isaacs as SANDF ends hijab ban
29 January 2021 1:08 PM
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Legal Resources Centre attorney Amy-Leigh Payne says the South African National Defence Force has agreed to amend its policy.
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has changed its dress policy to allow Muslim women to wear their hijab with their uniforms.
It is a victory for Major Fatima Isaacs, who lead a three-year battle for her religious right to wear her headscarf beneath her military beret.
South Africa has one of the most liberal constitutions in the world yet this is still an issue.
The Legal Resources Centre took up that. Major Isaacs was facing dismissal for woeful defiance and disobeying a lawful command for refusing to remove her hijab.