REDUCING THE STIGMATIZATION OF LGBT+ REFUGEES D aniel A lvarado - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

REDUCING THE STIGMATIZATION OF LGBT+ REFUGEES D aniel A lvarado , A lexandra D eH eer, B ryan G as sand V ero nica G urnaw an

2 SENSITIVE MATERIAL. This pres entatio n deals w ith difficult m aterial relating to the treatm ent o f L G B T+ m ino rities in ho s tile s ituatio ns .

3 Worldwide, hostile attitudes towards LGBT+ identities are endangering people’s lives. 16% 35% of UN Member States have of UN Member States find legal barriers to consensual same-sex acts expression of LGBT identity illegal ~8 59% of countries in Africa criminalize countries where death penalty is same-sex relations legal for homosexual acts

4 APPLY The asylum application process is difficult and INTERVIEW complex. DECISION

5 Fleeing countries of origin is especially difficult for LGBT+ refugees and asylum-seekers. A P P L Y IN TE R V IE W D E C IS IO N Y o u m ay no t have the s uppo rt Y o u are o ftentim es s ubjected If yo u do n’t fo llo w the crucial to the refugee to invas ive, unco m fo rtable narrative that the as ylum experience to s tart the and po tentially threatening o fficials w ant to hear, yo u pro ces s ques tio ns in the interview w o n’t be appro ved regardles s o f ho w valid yo ur experience is

6 Relief agencies need better ways to communicate resources with LGBT+ refugees. 01 02 03 In L G B T-ho s tile L G B T+ identity is A s L G B T+ co untries , L G B T+ s ens ns itive itiv e individuals are a related advo cacy is inf nfo o rm rm atio a tio n that n refugee m ino rity, als o cri rim m inalized i nalized requires pri rivac vacy y they als o need w hich m eans no no and nd ano no nym nym ity ity m m o o re s re pe pecial cialized ized lo o cal c al he help lp s erv rvices ces re res s o o ur urces ces

7 ORAM is a relief agency dedicated to connecting LGBT+ members with refuge and asylum resources.

8 Goal. Research the unique obstacles and communication issues that LGBT+ refugees and asylum-seekers face. This would inform the development of an application framework that seeks to connect refugees and asylum-seekers with crucial migration resources.

9 How we achieved our goal 01 Understand the challenges and opportunities for resettlement of LGBT+ Refugees and their access to support and resources. 02 Streamline communication channels for vulnerable LGBT+ refugees/asylum seekers to get resources while staying protected. 03 Make ORAM’s Help -Line operations more efficient.

10 01 02 Survey LGBT+ refugees and asylum-seekers Survey and interview humanitarian workers for user experience benchmarks for their needs and considerations Insight informs the design of: 03 Design a prototype to streamline and improve communication between relief agencies (ORAM) and LGBT+ refugees/asylum-seekers

11 Our project timeline Week 1 EVERY WEEK: • Develop/refine First day prototype based on Weeks 1-4: Finish base design of application, set-up field work field work responses and ORAM design reviews Weeks 4-5: Conduct surveys and interviews, use to inform design • Conduct interviews + surveys and Weeks 5-7: Conduct surveys and interviews, finalize design and condense into other deliverables Results Summary Week 7 Last day

12 01 Understand the challenges and opportunities for resettlement of LGBT+ Refugees and their access to support and resources. “We often had to go through resources in person to be sure the information was understood… Terms like “LGBTQ+” or “asylum” maybe not be in their regular vernacular, even if they identify with these terms.” -Surveyed Humanitarian Worker

13 01 Population Frame: People who work with these communities (humanitarian workers, advocates, government officials, etc.) Surveys Interviews • Bring light to the • Meaningfulness of the perspectives of those who design work in advocacy work • The pros and cons of existing • Provide more input on the strategies design • What do they need? Know?

14 Poverty and literacy stalls access to 01 communication between relief agencies and refugees/asylum-seekers. “…Some clients are illiterate in their own language which poses new challenges to communication and other times it is hard to find an interpreter that speaks their language.” -Project Coordinator in Refuge/Asylum Services

15 Language barriers is the most difficult 01 obstacle for reaching clients. “We heavily use volunteer interpreters. The majority of clients are limited English speakers.” 33.3% -Former resettlement agency site director of Humanitarians believe language barriers to be the most difficult obstacle for reaching refugees

16 The three top communication platforms 01 involved either the internet or mobile devices. Emailing, phone calling and social media were the 3 most popular!

17 01 Summary of Biggest Findings: Unique issues with poverty and literacy Language barriers Streamlined communication platforms

18 02 Streamline communication channels for vulnerable LGBT+refugees/asylum seekers to get resources while staying protected.

19 02 Population Frame: Current LGBT+ identifying refugees and asylum- seekers based in camps in Tijuana, Mexico, and Kenya. Surveys • User experience of the model app design • Determine accessibility and security concerns that could preventcommunication efforts • Feedback for proposed model features

20 We inferred usability insights from survey 02 responses. 50% 86% 30% of refugees Use a Don’t own have little to smartphone the device no access to as their they used reliable primary to take the internet device survey

21 We inferred usability insights from survey 02 responses. No reliable An app that Not owning internet can open on the device access → mobile is → multiple accessing more helpful accesses to internet on a than just a the same non-private desktop device’s network version info

22 Where there is accessibility issues, there are 02 potential security concerns!

23 Surveyed refugees supported our list of 02 proposed application features. 50% of refugees find a list of local resources extremely useful 52% find and explanation of the asylum process extremely useful 55% find a map of friendly LGBT+ spaces extremely useful

24 02 Summary of Biggest Findings: Security concerns with limited accessibility Limited accessibility poses communication barrier Feedback on proposed features

25 03 Make ORAM’s Help -Line operations more efficient.

26 03 Method: We designed a prototype to assist ORAM'scommunication efforts. Deliverables • Prototype of Help-Line • Database Tool • Documentation on humanitarian workers' perspectives and user experience feedback from refugees

27 The previous Help-Line system was an 03 entirely manual process • Time consuming • Required attention to detail • Back-and-forth communication needed • All parts of the process were manual

28 The New Help-Line is more efficient, and 03 accessible.

29 ORAM Updates Their Excel Spreadsheet With New/Updated Information

30 Information Is Sent To Be Displayed On The Website

31 03 Summary: Web Application Prototype Database Tool

32 On behalf of the LGBT+ Migrants team, thank you!