Between protection and assistance: is there refuge for asylum seekers with disabilities in Europe?

Abstract

Thanks to sustained advocacy, conceptual boundaries have shifted from the medical model to social and rights-based approaches to disability. However, little attention has been devoted to whether this paradigm shift has taken place for those outside the citizenship community. This article seeks to address this gap, investigating the approach to disability adopted by the Common European Asylum System. Focusing on the legal documents dealing with qualification, asylum procedures and reception conditions, the article reveals the barriers encountered by persons with disabilities seeking refuge in the European Union.

Keywords:

• disability
• asylum
• Europe
• social model
• human rights

Acknowledgements

The research for this article was conducted as part of the MSc in Forced Migration at the Refugee Studies Centre, University Of Oxford, UK. I would like to thank Dr. Nando Sigona for his continuous support.