Sexual and Gender Minorities in Humanitarian Emergencies

Traumatic Stress Among Sexual and Gender Minority Refugees From the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia Who Fled to the European Union

“…For example, transgender refugees should be placed in camps that match their gender identities, regardless of the sex indicated on their identification documents (FRA, 2017; Rumbach & Knight, 2013). Moreover, access to gender‐neutral restrooms and single‐stall showers in such camps should be mandatory (Rumbach & Knight, ).…”

“…In 2015 alone, approximately 86,000 people applied for asylum in Austria and 43,000 in the Netherlands (Eurostat, ). Understanding the experiences of LGBTQ refugees is critical because their mental health and psychosocial needs are distinct from those of the general refugee population (Rumbach & Knight, ; UNCHR, ). Ultimately, information reported in this study has the potential to influence humanitarian assistance programs for LGBTQ refugees.…”

“…The destination phase refers to temporary or long‐term settlement in the new location (Zimmerman et al., ). Although host countries, such as those in the European Union, may offer some measure of security for LGBTQ refugees, the mechanisms used to assist these individuals may place them at further risk of trauma (Rumbach & Knight, ). For example, media reports have indicated that hundreds of LGBTQ refugees from MENA have experienced harassment and violence by other refugees in European migration camps (Associated Press, ).…”

Queering women, peace and security

“…55 For example, aravanis or non-binary individuals (neither male/man nor female/woman) were denied access to toilets and showers in evacuation centres after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami as they were designed exclusively to cater to male or female persons. 56 Where people are compelled to migrate from conflict-related environments this becomes especially relevant to those who may be seeking cross-border refuge or asylum with government-issued identification that may not represent their identity. Cissexist programmatic work neglects to take these issues into account when developing programmes to serve populations in emergencies and conflictrelated environments.…”

“…Rumbach and Knight review how sexual and gender minorities experience discrimination in humanitarian emergencies and report: 'Relief programs targeting women only, for example, have been problematic for transgender people and people who do not live in a home with a female who qualifies as head of household, such as gay men.' 57 As another example of inadequate work to target sexual and gender minorities, LGBTI 58 refugees in Kenya, the largest refugee population in the world as of August 2012, were unable to find any focused programmes within the refugee camp and instead had to travel to Nairobi for services. In their report the authors highlight the need for people to feel safe declaring their non-normative family structure to humanitarian aid workers, explaining: Same-sex families can also be negatively affected during processes such as refugee resettlement if they do not feel able, or are not offered the opportunity, to declare their partnership, for instance, because they are asked limiting questions about the opposite sex, or because they believe the staff member handling their case may bar them from receiving any benefits if they disclose a same-sex relationship.…”