19 December 2019: coi, standards, uk

Article on COI in UK Country Guidance cases (International Journal of Refugee Law)

The analysis was undertaken by Femke Vogelaar, who is working on a doctorate on the use of COI by decision makers and policymakers.

Abstract

This article examines the use of Country of Origin Information (COI) by the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the United Kingdom Upper Tribunal in country guidance determinations. The article assesses which standards regarding the use of COI are set by the Tribunal. Furthermore, it examines how these standards are applied by the Tribunal while it assesses the general situation or the situation of a particular group of persons at risk in Iran, Somalia, and Sri Lanka. The examination of country guidance determinations shows that the Tribunal’s assessments are based on a comprehensive range of COI, including information from expert witnesses, governmental agencies, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, and news agencies. However, the country guidance determinations would benefit from a more uniform, structured approach to improve the transparency of the assessment of the reliability of information and the balancing process of COI. This would ensure a visibly ‘effectively comprehensive’ decision.

For the full article, please visit:

• Femke Vogelaar: A Legal Analysis of a Crucial Element in Country Guidance Determinations: Country of Origin Information, in: International Journal of Refugee Law, eez027, 29 September 2019
  https://doi.org/10.1093/ijrl/eez027

Thank you to Elisa Mason who informed us about this article via the Forced Migration Current Awareness Blog.