GPPi contributes to Nordic Asylum Seminar 2013

GPPi Research Associate Julian Lehmann gave a presentation on 7 June 2013 at the Nordic Asylum Seminar in Bergen, Norway. The presentation brought up for discussion whether non-state actors can provide ​“protection” against serious harm – particularly generalized violence – under European Union law and international refugee law.

Lehmann argued that EU law wrongly assumes that non-state actors have the actual capacity to provide protection for purposes of asylum law. What ​“protection” means in EU law is also too narrow. It does not take into account that international refugee law is about delivering human rights. That rights-based standard is relevant to cases of generalized violence because the legal status of refugees and of those that enjoy asylum after having fled generalized violence merge.

The Nordic Asylum Law Seminar is a forum for exchange and dialogue on issues related to domestic, European and international refugee and migration law between academics, governments, judicial institutions, advocates and civil society in the Nordic context. The conference covered the topics of exclusion from international protection, recent EU developments, procedural hazards, asylum applicants with special needs and international protection for people fleeing generalized violence.