Who is a migrant and a refugee?
The term “migrant” (Polish: migrant) refers to legal categories of persons whose status or manner of movement is not specifically defined in international law. In everyday usage, a “migrant” is understood to be a person who moves away from their place of usual residence (either within a country or across international borders), temporarily or permanently, for a variety of reasons and motivations.
A refugee (a person with refugee experience; Polish: uchodźca) is a person who has been forced to flee conflict or persecution and has crossed an international border to find safety. Refugees cannot return to their country without risking their life or freedom. It is a legal term that carries certain protections to which refugees are entitled.
An asylum seeker (Polish: osoba ubiegająca się o status uchodźcy) is a person seeking international protection who has lodged an application for protection in the country of arrival. If international protection is refused, the person must leave the country (or may be removed from it), like any other foreigner in an irregular situation, unless they are granted permission to stay on humanitarian or other related grounds.
More about the differences in concepts: UNHCR – Refugee or migrant? We explain the differences
What does LGBTQI+ stand for?
The acronym is formed from the first letters of the (English) terms: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTQI+). The “plus” symbol represents many other categories.
The acronym LGBTQI+ itself encompasses a wide range of identities, genders, communities and experiences that are complex, often divergent and reflect diverse needs requiring specific and tailored responses.
Intersectionality
The term intersectionality describes the way in which social identities overlap and intersect.
People who belong to more than one group at risk of exclusion, due to e.g. skin colour, origin, gender, age, economic status, etc., may experience even greater discrimination than those who experience it because of one aspect of their identity.
The situation of LGBTQI+ migrants/refugees
Many LGBTQI+ migrants flee their countries of origin because of persecution and/or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or sex characteristics. LGBTQI+ people from countries where these groups face systemic, often state-sponsored violence may be sentenced to prison or killed by state or non-state actors.
In some cases, but not always, individuals may apply for refugee status and protection as “members of a particular social group” under the 1951 Refugee Convention. The Convention sets out their rights and the legal obligations of states to protect them.
The situation of migrants who cannot be protected under the Geneva Convention, although faced with the same threats and discrimination, is even more difficult because they are subject to national law and the procedures of the country they have come to (the host country).
Integration
The process through which people with migration experience become part of society. Integration is a multi-stakeholder process that depends on the actions of many actors: people with migration experience, the authorities of the host country, institutions and communities.