Institute for Research on Innovation and Services for Development

The Right to Asylum from a Gender Perspective

Research studies by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees show that there are 79.5 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide. It has come to our attention, at The Thinking Watermill Society, that although women and girls consist of half the population of refugees, they are still considered as a “minority” and a “vulnerable group”. This is not due to their number but, rather, to the systemic discrimination and subordination of their status.

Hence, our research focuses on illustrating to our readers the need for gender as a protected social group in the asylum determination process, delineated within the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.

We presented our project and its relevant publication report during a meeting and webinar that took place on 14 October 2021, at the premises of Pavia e Ansaldo law firm in Rome, with the cooperation of The Thinking Watermill Society. Ms. Caterina Luciani, partner of Pavia e Ansaldo and president of The Thinking Watermill Society introduced the event and we had the honor to have Rt. Hon. Ms. Patricia Scotland, The Commonwealth Secretary General, to present the keynote speech.

Following our presentation, a roundtable of experts took place, moderated by Mr. Fulvio Maria Palombino (Professor of international law at the University of Naples, Federico II, CNR-IRISS Associate, and of-counsel at Pavia e Ansaldo law firm).

The experts that participated to the roundtable were: Mr. Giovanni Carlo Bruno (Senior researcher of international law at the CNR in Naples) Mr. Luis Gabriel Franceschi (Senior director of Governance & Peace at The Commonwealth in London, as well as professor at the Strathmore University of Nairobi, Kenya), Mr. Allan Mukuki (Director of International Partnerships at the Strathmore University of Nairobi, Kenya) and Ms. Chiara Scipioni (RSD -Refugee Status Determination- Associate, UNHCR in Rome).

Pavia e Ansaldo law firm, thanks to the international project carried out, received the sustainability award on 11 November 2021, by LC Publishing Group.

Download the unabridged version of the Study

October 14th, 2021