"You're gay! Death to gays!"
Advocacy group LGBT Asylum Support has sent a third urgent letter to the Minister for Migration, highlighting what it calls a severe and ongoing failure by the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) to protect LGBTQ+ individuals. The letter follows multiple documented incidents at the Ter Apel asylum center, including death threats made with a weapon, which the COA allegedly failed to report to the police, a direct violation of its own protocols.
The organization states that the COA is neglecting its legal duty of care, leaving some of the most vulnerable people in its charge exposed to violence and intimidation. Despite LGBTQ+ asylum seekers being officially designated as a priority, high-risk group requiring enhanced protection, the response to life-threatening situations has been critically inadequate.
A Complaint Form for a Knife Threat
According to Sandro Kortekaas, chairman of LGBT Asylum Support, the group reported several serious criminal offenses to the COA within a single week. When no action was taken, the issues were escalated to management, as per their agreement. The response to one of the most severe incidents, however, was particularly alarming.
"In one of the death threats, where a knife was used, the COA merely provided a complaint form," Kortekaas stated. He noted that the agency failed to report the incident to the police or assist the victim in doing so, forcing him to call the police himself.
The failures extend even to areas designated for safety. "These homophobic incidents are even taking place in one of the protected LGBTQ+ units," Kortekaas explained. "The COA placed a heterosexual resident there who intimidates and threatens others, creating a completely unsafe environment. No action is taken in response to reports, completely ignoring the escalation process we have with the COA."
The Hague Steps In As National Government Falters
Despite numerous emergency letters and research reports highlighting these systemic issues, the Minister for Migration has so far been unwilling to establish separate, dedicated reception facilities for queer asylum seekers. In response to this national inaction, the city of The Hague has taken a decisive step.
Following years of advocacy by groups like LGBT Asylum Support, which has handled over 400 incident reports this year alone, The Hague's city council has approved the creation of the Netherlands' first "queer-sensitive" reception center. The municipality plans to begin realizing the project after the summer, providing a local solution where the national government has failed.
Kortekaas is urging other municipalities to follow suit. "The Hague is the first municipality to realize this special form of queer-sensitive reception. The Minister and the COA must take their responsibilities seriously and prioritize the safety of queer asylum seekers," he emphasized. "Failing to fulfill the legal duty of care and allowing unsafe situations to persist is unacceptable. It is directly contrary to the obligations arising from Article 1 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination. That includes discrimination against queer asylum seekers."
