A qualitative investigation into IND's immigration procedure for SGM refugees: A focus on story coherency and cultural differences

Kingma, Mirjam (2022) A qualitative investigation into IND's immigration procedure for SGM refugees: A focus on story coherency and cultural differences. Bachelor thesis, Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL).

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Abstract

This study looked into the procedure of the IND regarding Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) refugees, focusing on cultural differences and story coherency. The aim was to analyse this procedure and identify potential improvements. The IND’s policy changed in 2019 to a focus on personal experiences and meaning by asking open-ended questions: having 'an authentic story'. However, existing studies did not consider the experiences of SGM refugees nor the perspectives of other professionals (e.g. psychologists, lawyers). This research addresses this gap by conducting interviews with SGM refugees, a psychologist, a psychiatrist and a lawyer who are working with SGM refugees. In total five semi-structured interviews were conducted. Three of the interviewees are professionals and two are SGM refugees. Results show a discrepancy between the theoretical work instructions of the IND and the perception of the SGM refugees and professionals on the procedure. Thereafter, recommendations to the IND have been made by the participants. Feelings of unsafety, trauma, anxiety and stress could influence the fairness of the procedure, regarding the criterion story coherency. Additionally, cultural differences in the procedure included cultural sensitivity, trauma, internalised homophobia, pressure from family and western stereotypes. The procedure of the IND regarding SGM refugees can be improved in seven different ways. The research has strong implications to improve the procedure of the IND regarding education, clear communication, considering memory loss, open attitude and breaks, trauma treatment, openness to new information and internalised homophobia. This study contributes to the current knowledge about the procedure of the IND regarding cultural differences and story coherency. Keywords: Sexual and Gender Minorities; Asylum; Refugee; Procedure; IND; Cultural differences; Cultural sensitivity; Memory loss; Story coherency; Trauma

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Name supervisor:	Gul, P.
Date Deposited:	09 Sep 2022 13:44
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2022 13:44
URI:	https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/143

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