Queer refugees and human rights: on the limits of recognition

Abstract This article draws from the author’s lived experience of queer displacement and involvement in international advocacy for LGBTIQ+ refugees, focusing on key policy developments from 2016 to 2021. Central to this analysis is the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), which, despite its potential, ultimately failed to specifically address the needs of LGBTIQ+ refugees. Through a lived-experience lens, the GCR’s text is critically examined, revealing its limitations in recognizing LGBTIQ+ refugees. Further analysis of UNHCR’s Global Roundtable on Protection and Solutions for LGBTIQ+ People in Forced Displacement exposes the power imbalances that hinder meaningful participation in spaces purportedly inclusive of LGBTIQ+ refugees. The author contends that mere visibility is insufficient for recognition; a redistribution of power is essential. Grounded in feminist and intersectional frameworks, the article advocates for a paradigm shift in refugee policy towards full inclusion, human rights protection, justice and social equity for LGBTIQ+ refugees.