Overcoming Adversity: The Journey of a Transgender Asylum woman from Pakistan

In May 2022, the ELIL team in Athens assisted a transgender woman from Pakistan, helping her to schedule her asylum interview, leave detention and access accommodation, medical and psychological care. A month later, a merged interview took place on the basis of both admissibility and eligibility criteria. As Pakistan is on the list of safe countries of origin, an accelerated process was initiated.

The interview was extremely challenging and lasted many hours, because the applicant had experienced violence, discrimination and abuse in her home country, as well as during the journey and upon arrival in Europe. The ELIL team provided extensive preparation ahead of the interview and accompanied the applicant to the asylum service. Additionally, a legal memo was submitted. In October, the woman was finally granted refugee status.

At ELIL we believe that refugees and asylum seekers, particularly those who are most vulnerable, should receive free, expert legal assistance tailored to their specific needs