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  1. who we are
  2. about us

about us

Our Work

Asylos is a UK-registered charity that conducts research for asylum claims worldwide. Our aim is to ensure that every refugee has the evidence they need to claim their right to asylum and live in safety. By leveraging the skills of nearly 100 volunteer researchers in over 25 countries around the world and our team of eight staff and consultants, we harness a broad range of skills to help asylum seekers like Aynoor from Pakistan or Lamiah from Afghanistan prove the persecution they have endured and claim their right to safety under international law.

Our work protects the right to asylum in refugee host countries, from the UK and the USA to Germany or Malaysia. We support asylum lawyers and NGOs to make sure refugee law is applied and justice is served for the most vulnerable displaced people in the world. Hear from lawyers who have used our services around the world.

"I can’t say enough how much I appreciate your project... it seems like you’re working with the best researchers and experts in the field. This information is invaluable." Nimrod Avigal, HIAS Israel


Our Vision

Our vision is a world in which all asylum decisions are based on fair process and accurate information.


Our Mission

At Asylos, we believe that every asylum seeker deserves a fair opportunity to claim their right to protection. Evidence to prove persecution or to support the credibility of individual testimony is a vital element in the decisions taken to grant or withhold asylum. But many refugees and their legal representatives cannot access necessary information. To redress this imbalance and protect the right to asylum, Asylos works towards the following mission:


Access to information

Country of Origin Information (COI) is accessible to all who need it. People seeking asylum and their legal counsel have access to relevant, timely and high-quality information to substantiate their claims.

Use of information

The asylum procedure is always evidence-based. Relevant, timely and high-quality Country of Origin Information is considered in every asylum decision.

Absence of prejudice

The asylum procedure is always unbiased. Processes involving people seeking asylum are conducted in a fair and impartial manner with no room for assumptions or preconceptions.

Societal Awareness

There is broad recognition within host societies of the importance of high-quality COI in the asylum procedure.


Our Services

Asylos provides services free of charge to lawyers and caseworkers around the world assisting asylum seekers through their legal procedures. We produce case-based and broader country-of-origin information (COI) research reports which lawyers and caseworkers can use to support a variety of protection-based claims in court. Our reports can be used to inform your argument, or submit in whole or in part to a tribunal or appeals committee.


Bespoke Research for your Client

Quality COI research can make or break an asylum application. We help lawyers and NGOs in any country of arrival support their clients' case by producing individualised reports on specific human rights situations in refugee countries of origin. From political or religious persecution to access to medical care, if the information is out there, we will find it. You can access our 600+ case-specific research reports or request your own bespoke research report here.

Thematic Research to Address Information Gaps

Each year, we produce one extensive thematic research report for a group of vulnerable persons seeking asylum. We publish new interview excerpts alongside existing information to shed light on the circumstances that these individuals may be facing in their home countries. Lawyers, NGOs and decision-makers can use this research to better understand the context from which persons seeking asylum have fled. Our past thematic reports have covered topics such as the situation of Stateless Palestinians in Lebanon, Children and Young people with Disabilities in Nigeria and Trafficked Boys and Young Men from Albania. You can access all of our thematic research reports on this page.

Spotlight Research

We compile collections of relevant research about fast-changing situations of particular urgency and update these regularly when there is a need. For example, we have compiled and regularly updated research Repository about Afghanistan and a Repository about Stateless Individuals and those at risk of Statelessness from the Ukraine.

Country of Origin Information (COI) research training

Each year, we run a series of Country of Origin Information research training webinars, free of charge, for lawyers and NGO representatives. We have developed training handbooks and webinars about COI in the UK, child-specific COI research and on disability-specific COI research. Our training webinars usually take place in the first quarter of each calendar year. Information about past training webinars is available on our project page; any forthcoming training webinars will be announced on our news page and disseminated through our monthly newsletter.

In addition, we recruit and train about a dozen new volunteer COI researchers each year. Our recruitment usually opens in the fourth quarter of each year. For more information on how to apply to become a volunteer researcher, please refer to this page.

Commentaries on Government-Produced COI Research

Each year, we publish a small selection of commentaries on research produced by governments and intergovernmental organisations. These commentaries highlight any methodological shortcomings and suggestions for further research. Past publications include a commentary on the UK Home Office's research about the Rwandan Asylum System. We encourage lawyers and NGOs to make use of our commentaries to inform their clients’ asylum appeal procedures. All of our commentaries are published on our project page.


Our Impact

Asylos was established in 2010. Since then, our network of highly-skilled volunteer researchers has produced more than 600 Country of Origin Information research reports, assisting thousands of refugees claim their right to protection. Our research reports have been used in at least 20 countries and regularly help refugees to be granted asylum. Our research has been used by UNHCR to inform UN eligibility guidelines, has been submitted as evidence in the 2018 UK Country Guidance on Afghanistan and has been cited by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO, now EUAA), as well as several European government agencies and NGOs.


Our Founding Story

The decision to launch Asylos was made in early 2010 over lunch in a small Parisian restaurant. One of our founders had come to befriend and witness the dramatic story of a Kurdish refugee from Iran who had made a long and life-threatening journey to Belgium. After years of legal battle to obtain asylum, the refugee faced expulsion. Our founder offered his support to the refugees’ lawyer and together they decided that he would help research information for the case. A few hours of searching the internet for recent developments in Iran was all it took. The information he produced for the lawyer was more detailed and up-to-date than what the representative of the Belgian government could present. In particular, it highlighted that the situation regarding human rights in Iran had worsened in essential respects. On appeal, the judge overturned the expulsion order and granted the Kurdish refugee full asylum. For him, years of fear and agonising uncertainty came to an end. A few hours of work in front of a computer helped transform a life. This is how easy, how effective, and how deeply rewarding this type of research can be. At said lunch in Paris, our founder, together with two of his colleagues, devised a plan to found Asylos. The idea: matching one asylum case with one volunteer who conducts Country of Origin Information research, helping overburdened asylum lawyers and contributing to a more just and fair asylum system.


Our Partners

Cooperating with partners is an integral part of Asylos' work. We partner with a variety of different foundations, organisations, institutions and law firms to ensure the highest standards of quality and functionality in our work. Take a look at who these partners are.


Join us in helping an asylum seeker claim refuge and reinforcing the rule of law in your country's immigration system

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Published: 6th March, 2019

Updated: 24th May, 2023

Author:

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Latest

  • Register for our new Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Workshops

    Register for our new Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Workshops

    You are invited to join our forthcoming Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Workshops co-delivered by Asylum Aid and Asylos. Click to find out more about dates and registration.

  • Read our 2022 Annual Report

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    We have just released our annual report and financial accounts for the year of 2022. Take a closer look at the activities we conducted to support fair asylum decisions.

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  • Carol Bohmer

    Carol Bohmer

    Carol Bohmer, is an Asia and America's team researcher. She is a lawyer and sociologist, a retired academic, currently a Visiting Scholar in the Government Department at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.

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  • Afghanistan COI Repository

    Afghanistan COI Repository

    This page contains extensive and current Country of Origin Information (COI) about Afghanistan, including on the security situation, medical care, livelihoods, IDPs, women, children and targeted groups.

  • about us

    about us

    Asylos researchers use investigative research techniques to access country of origin information and help refugees claim their right to asylum.

  • Ukraine COI Repository

    Ukraine COI Repository

    This page contains current Country of Origin Information (COI) about stateless, at risk of statelessness, and/or undocumented people in Ukraine. The repository covers persecution, medical care, documentation, freedom of movement, military service, livelihood, IDPs, women, children and targeted groups.

  • volunteer

    volunteer

    Can you spare two hours per week? Join one of our research teams and help us research information for asylum claims.

  • Iran COI Repository

    Iran COI Repository

    This page contains current Country of Origin Information (COI) about the situation of asylum seekers from Afghanistan in Iran, including on the security situation, documentation (visas/passports), medical care, livelihood, women, children and targeted groups.

  • meet the team

    meet the team

    Asylos's 100 volunteers are organised into regional teams and supported by dedicated staff and consultants, a board of trustees and the advisory committee.

  • Pakistan COI Repository

    Pakistan COI Repository

    This page contains current Country of Origin Information (COI) about the situation of asylum seekers from Afghanistan in Pakistan, including on the security situation, documentation (visas/passports), medical care, livelihood, women, children and targeted groups.

  • Türkiye COI Repository

    Türkiye COI Repository

    This page contains current Country of Origin Information (COI) about the situation of asylum seekers from Afghanistan in Türkiye, including on the security situation, documentation (visas/passports), medical care, livelihood, women, children and targeted groups.

  • We're recruiting an Operations Assistant

    We're recruiting an Operations Assistant

    Asylos is looking for an ambitious Operations Assistant based In the Netherlands or the UK with attention to detail and a passion for human rights and asylum. The application deadline is 12 June 2022.

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    albania: trafficked boys and young men

    This report addresses a major gap in the COI literature and contributes to a more transparent and informed debate about young male victims of trafficking from Albania.

Tag cloud

Asylos Snippets Asylum Stories Current Events Research Insights
Lebanon: Stateless Palestinians

Lebanon: Stateless Palestinians

This Asylos publication addresses a critical gap in Country of Origin Information and contributes to a more informed debate about stateless Palestinians in Lebanon. Read more

Published: 1st March, 2023

Updated: 31st May, 2023

Author: Sophie Kloos

Rwanda: Treatment of members of the United Democratic Forces (UDF) and people refusing civic service

Rwanda: Treatment of members of the United Democratic Forces (UDF) and people refusing civic service

This research report (published in French) was produced in response to a research query from a legal professional. It covers the treatment of members of the United Democratic Forces and people refusing civic service in Rwanda. Read more

Published: 9th May, 2023

Updated: 31st May, 2023

Author: Sophie Kloos

New initiative to increase access to our research

New initiative to increase access to our research

Asylos is launching a new initiative aimed at making a selection of our bespoke research available publicly. Read on to learn more about the reports we're publishing this month. Read more

Published: 9th May, 2023

Updated: 1st June, 2023

Author: Sophie Kloos

El Salvador: Incidences of violence by police or other state actors

El Salvador: Incidences of violence by police or other state actors

This research report was produced in response to information needs of people seeking asylum. It covers incidents of violence by police or other state actors in El Salvador. Read more

Published: 9th May, 2023

Updated: 31st May, 2023

Author: Sophie Kloos

Country of Origin Information: A Tool of Resilience

Country of Origin Information: A Tool of Resilience

For Refugee Week, our Operations Assistant Laurence Hamieh tells her personal story of how Country of Origin Information played a key role in the success of her asylum application. Read more

Published: 22nd June, 2023

Read our 2022 Annual Report

Read our 2022 Annual Report

We have just released our annual report and financial accounts for the year of 2022. Take a closer look at the activities we conducted to support fair asylum decisions. Read more

Published: 26th June, 2023

Updated: 29th June, 2023

Author: Sophie Kloos

Register for our new Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Workshops

Register for our new Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Workshops

You are invited to join our forthcoming Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Workshops co-delivered by Asylum Aid and Asylos. Click to find out more about dates and registration. Read more

Published: 12th July, 2023

Updated: 24th August, 2023

Author: Fatima Ali

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Registered as Charity number 1158386