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  • what we do
  1. who we are
  2. what we do

what we do

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 his or her 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 this 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.

"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 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 Children and Young people with Disabilities in Nigeria, State Treatment of LGBTIQ+ Persons in Ghana and Returned Victims of Trafficking from Vietnam. 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. For example, we have compiled a 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. 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 referenced by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO, now EUAA), as well as several European government agencies and NGOs.


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: 29th December, 2022

Author:

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Latest

  • Principles for Statelessness Research Published

    Principles for Statelessness Research Published

    Our newest publication features six principles for legal representatives, decision-makers and Country of Origin Information researchers working with stateless persons seeking asylum and stateless status.

  • Learn more about Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Research

    Learn more about Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Research

    Join us online for our roundtable discussion on Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information (COI) and learn more about our new Publications on Statelessness Monday 6th March 2023, 1.00 - 2.30 GMT / 2 - 3.30 CET.

  • 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.

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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.

  • volunteer

    volunteer

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

  • what we do

    what we do

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • donate

    donate

    Your fundraising can help us conduct research for refugees. Make a donation today to help us give all asylum seekers and refugees the evidence they need to prove their claims and live in safety.

  • Remembering Lara Casalotti

    Remembering Lara Casalotti

    We celebrate the memory of a dear colleague, whose commitment to making the asylum system fairer and more humane has been an inspiration to us all.

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Asylos Snippets Asylum Stories Current Events Research Insights
Register for our research training webinars

Register for our research training webinars

***Registration for these webinars is now closed*** Read more

Published: 20th February, 2023

Updated: 21st March, 2023

Author: Sophie Kloos

Principles for Statelessness Research Published

Principles for Statelessness Research Published

Our newest publication features six principles for legal representatives, decision-makers and Country of Origin Information researchers working with stateless persons seeking asylum and stateless status. Read more

Published: 1st March, 2023

Author: Fatima Ali

Learn more about Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Research

Learn more about Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information Research

Join us online for our roundtable discussion on Statelessness-focused Country of Origin Information (COI) and learn more about our new Publications on Statelessness Monday 6th March 2023, 1.00 - 2.30 GMT / 2 - 3.30 CET. Read more

Published: 1st March, 2023

Author: Sophie Kloos

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: 9th March, 2023

Author: Sophie Kloos

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