Know more about 

Asylum seekers and
refugees support

This Program supports people already in Canada who have fled persecution in their country of origin based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status.

Introduction

We provide these asylum seekers and refugee claimants access to services in Canada while waiting for a decision regarding their refugee claim. This includes helping them understand, interpret, and navigate legal and institutional frameworks. Our Inland Program focuses on an individual’s right to claim asylum, protection and eligibility, providing essential services, access to justice, and obtaining legal identity documentation. 

We work in three ways:

Service delivery: We provide practical and social support to improve self-esteem and confidence, reduce isolation, and help access health services and housing. We also give specialist legal information and advice to LGBTQI+ people who are seeking asylum or making partnership applications to live Canada with their partners. We have partnerships with several law firms to whom we can refer our service users for quality legal representation.

 Influencing: We carry out campaigning, policy work and strategic litigation to improve the asylum and immigration system. We also engage directly with civil servants, parliamentarians, the government and the judiciary to create change.

Training and supporting other organisations: We work with lawyers, charities, the Home Office and others to improve the asylum and immigration system and services for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum

We have four goals:

  1. An asylum and immigration system that treats LGBTQI+ people fairly and with dignity
  2. LGBTQI+ people who need protection are granted leave to remain
  3. Optimum wellbeing and no isolation among LGBTQI+ people who are seeking asylum or have refugee status
  4. The experiences and needs of LGBTQI+ people migrating to the Canada are better understood inside and outside Canada.
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Free and confidential support for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and refugees

We welcome the entire diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, including non-binary, queer, intersex, asexual people and all identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. We also welcome those questioning their sexuality or gender identity, as well as those who do not use labels for either. No matter what stage you are at in your asylum or refugee journey, we welcome you. At the heart of Conam is a passionate commitment to fostering a Canada that embraces diversity and champions equality. Learn more about our history, values, and the dedicated team working tirelessly to make a positive impact.

Changes to lives

LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum will:

    • Have improved ability and resilience to cope with the challenges they face
    • Feel less isolated
    • Have support networks
    • Be in safe and appropriate housing
    • Access health services
    • Present better asylum claims
    • Overcome time-critical challenges to their asylum claims
    • Receive quality legal advice and representation
    • Be more likely to be granted leave to remain
  • LGBTQI+ people who have sought asylum will:
    • Inform our work strategically and operationally
  • LGBTQI+ people subject to immigration control will:
    • Spend less time in detention
  • LGBTQI+ people making partnership applications will:
    • Receive quality legal advice and information

Changes to systems and structures

We will make the following changes to the systems and structures that impact the lives of LGBTQI+ people who migrate (whether by choice or by force):

  • Increased lawyer capacity in LGBTQI+ asylum claims
  • Increased geographic diversity of lawyers with knowledge of LGBTQI+ asylum claims
  • Increased capacity and quality of services from voluntary sector and statutory services
  • Increased pressure from LGBTQI+ audiences for reform of the asylum and immigration system
  • Improved government practice for determining LGBTQI+ asylum claims
  • Updated guidelines and materials from inter-governmental bodies on LGBTQI+ asylum claims
  • Improved practice by judges in immigration tribunals
  • Better treatment of LGBTQI+ people in tribunals
  • Inclusion of LGBTQI+ refugees in resettlement programmes