Abstract/Summary

This chapter discusses three of the most common areas of challenge for an asylum seeker. The first part of the chapter explains the basis of a refugee claim and the refugee determination process in the UK. The second part highlights a number of issues relating to trauma and memory and their impact on disclosure in the asylum context. Thirdly, the challenges relating to country of origin information are noted, and finally some thoughts on credibility in this context are offered. Expertise from the field of psychology and psychiatry are crucial, not only for the asylum seekers’ claim to be understood in this system but also to improve the process itself. Globally, refugee determination systems vary to a considerable degree. They exist within different legal traditions and systems and in the context of a variety of governmental structures, cultures as well as politics. As such, this chapter focuses on the UK context, with the addition of selected examples of international comparisons. Despite this variation, the key issues discussed: namely trauma, memory and disclosure, country of origin information and credibility assessments, are common concerns within refugee determination processes.