[Statement] We welcome the court ruling recognizing a transgender refugee.
On the 18th, the Seoul High Court overturned the refugee non-recognition decision that the Administrative Court had handed down on March 15, 2019. The person at the center of this case, referred to as Person A, fled to Korea after experiencing persecution in their home country for living as a transgender person, and applied for refugee status here. This ruling marks the first time an appellate court has recognized someone as a refugee on the grounds of persecution based on gender identity.
While this is a significant ruling in that it acknowledges the reality of persecution faced by transgender people in their home countries, it also leaves several issues yet to be addressed.
Migration to Asia Peace (MAP) is joining this joint statement. We invite you to share the statement and add your name. We would be grateful if you could sign on by 11:00 a.m. tomorrow (10/21).
Full text and sign-on link below.