Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the designation of countries where homosexuality is prosecuted as ‘safe countries’ in relation to asylum claims is compatible with their commitment to human rights.

The designation of countries under Section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 does not preclude protection for those at real risk of harm. The presumption of safety is rebuttable, in other words, claims are not automatically certified as 'clearly unfounded'. Instead, asylum claims from designated countries are assessed on their individual merits. If an applicant demonstrates a real risk of persecution, including on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, their claim will not be certified as clearly unfounded.