Crossing Double Borders
LGBTQI+ displacement to Poland: persecution, discrimination and challenges in accessing humanitarian assistance
This research report examines the challenges faced in accessing humanitarian assistance by LGBTQI+ migrants in Poland.
Without adequate and rights-based protection of the most vulnerable individuals, humanitarian reception or asylum policies cannot be deemed successful. Recent emergencies in Central and Eastern Europe, such as the 2022 Ukrainian refugee response and humanitarian crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border have underscored the urgent need to reassess and strengthen protection mechanisms for marginalised groups, particularly LGBTQI+ forced migrants.
This report provides a unique, first-hand analysis of the testimonies of LGBTQI+ individuals who, fearing for their lives, health or safety, sought refuge in Poland before and after the reception of millions of Ukrainians in 2022.
Unlike other reports published after 2022, this one provides a detailed, step-by-step analysis of the systemic and legal – not merely humanitarian – obstacles faced by LGBTQI+ asylum seekers in Poland. More importantly, it presents concrete solutions for decision-makers, public administration, border services, and both local and international organisations operating in Poland, which would result in a rights-based approach to LGBTQI+ displacement.
The case study of Poland demonstrates the fundamental role played by the local context and state actors in the humanitarian response at the external borders of the European Union. Our analysis highlights that, in the context of future mechanisms and regulations – such as the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and the Polish Migration Strategy – ensuring adequate protection and support for those at risk of exclusion and violence constitutions a true test of humanitarian principles and values for which the EU stands.
This work presents the first comprehensive analysis of the situation of LGBTQI+ refugees and forced migrants in the context of the Ukrainian refugee response in Poland. It centres the lived experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals while critically examining systemic gaps within national asylum procedures, humanitarian services, and legal protection frameworks. Drawing on 23 in-depth interviews with 24 LGBTQ+ forced migrants, alongside 18 expert interviews with legal experts, humanitarian actors, grassroots organisations, and international stakeholders, these findings are further supported by a legal analysis and a review of academic and institutional literature.
We hope that this report will not only address gaps in existing knowledge, but also contribute to building a coherent response, monitoring and protection system for LGBTQI+ forced migrants in Poland.
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Executive Summary – English
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Executive Summary – Polish
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Full Report – English
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Categories: Emergencies
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