FDPN participates in CRCP

In 2024, for the first time, FDPN participated in the Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP), formerly known as the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement. The CRCP event is the most important multilateral forum for UNHCR, States, the private sector, academia, NGOs and refugees to discuss and advance resettlement issues of common interest. It allows for open and frank dialogue and strives to produce positive outcomes by forging collaborative approaches to global resettlement. This self-funded trip marks an important step in representing the voices of LGBTIQA+ displaced people from the Asia Pacific region at such an important international event.
 

First of all, we thank the current chair of CRCP, the Australian government and the Refugee Council of Australia for listening to us and making a plenary session on the issues of LGBTIQA+ forcibly displaced people (not just an optional concurrent session). This session covered an important topic of third-country solutions for LGBTIQA+ refugees. The decision to run the session as a plenary conveys a crucial message that our lives matter and our protection needs are not optional. The issues of LGBTIQA+ refugees should remain central to any refugee work being undertaken.

Every day for an LGBTIQA+ displaced person in an unsafe situation is a struggle for survival, whether in their countries of origin, while waiting for solutions in camps or transit countries. During these three days our message was loud and clear: we seek a collective international commitment to developing and implementing safe and fast solutions for LGBTIQA+ displaced people. Let me touch on a few.

While some countries have made progress in recognising the rights of LGBTIQA+ people, many others still pose significant risks, including violence, imprisonment, and even the death penalty. In the Asia Pacific region, the situation becomes even more precarious where LGBTIQA+ individuals seeking protection in countries that are not signatories to the Refugee Convention. Many countries in our region not only host large refugee populations but also actively criminalise LGBTIQA+ people. This duality makes safe identification and refugee status determination (RSD) extraordinarily difficult. We have expressed our concerns about troubling trends of outsourcing RSD to third countries where LGBTIQA+ identities are already criminalised. This would put LGBTIQA+ people seeking safety in impossible and dangerous positions. Comprehensive training for all involved in RSD is essential to create an affirming and safe environment for LGBTIQA+ persons to disclose their identities without compromising their safety

We have reiterated that working on developing solutions for LGBTIQA+ displaced people, the role of refugee-led organisations (RLOs) must be recognised as indispensable. RLOs play a critical role in supporting work on resettlement, family reunification, determining complementary pathways and supporting displaced people on the ground.

We have seen the growth in the amount of RLOs and their growing recognition at the UN. It is essential we recognise the diversity among RLOs and their unique roles and capabilities of those led by displaced women, LGBTIQA+ refugees, or displaced people with disabilities. These RLOs bring invaluable perspectives and expertise that are crucial for addressing the varied needs of refugee populations. LGBTIQA+ refugee-led organisations are particularly effective in identifying LGBTIQ+ refugees, offering not only accurate identification but also safety and community trust. This trust is vital for encouraging individuals to disclose their identities and seek the support they need. The recognition of the roles of RLOs must be accompanied by their adequate resourcing.

There has been a focus on the improving family reunification processes as they must be responsive to the contexts in which LGBTIQA+ refugees live. Often, there is very limited ability to provide documentary evidence of relationships due to persecution in their countries of origin. We need to establish responsive family reunification programs that understand these realities. LGBTIQA+ RLOs need to be engaged as close partners to ensure these programs are inclusive and effective.

Partnering with LGBTIQA+ RLOs in determining complementary pathways (e.g. through education) for LGBTIQA+ refugees can significantly assist decision-makers in understanding the structural issues these refugees face, such as forced marriages, sexuality and gender identity conversion practices, and the inability to medically or legally affirm their gender, that have likely hindered their ability to access education or employment. These partnerships help design inclusive criteria for complementary pathways.

Similarly, in resettlement, we need to work with settlement services to build their capabilities to provide responsive and appropriate services. Successful third-country solutions rely heavily on the capacity of the settlement system to be responsive, LGBTIQA+ inclusive, and affirming.

We have called on the global community and decision makers to work towards strong and meaningful partnerships with LGBTIQA+ refugee-led organisations across all stages of displacement and settlement. This ensures that the protection needs of LGBTIQA+ forcibly displaced people are understood and safely met. LGBTIQ+ RLOs should be recognised as change-makers and have sustainable resourcing to support the rest of the ecosystem.

We have called on stakeholders to design solutions that are responsive and also match the realities of different regions. It is essential to approach these discussions with a regional perspective to reflect the varied needs and contexts. In some contexts, we need to get people to safety as fast as we can.

It has been a privilege to represent FDPN and the LGBTIQA+ forcibly displaced people. The work continues.