UNPACK: Unpacking the asylum procedure in its intersecting linguistic, sociocultural, psychological and legal dimensions
- Promotors: Ellen Desmet, Ilse Derluyn, Katrijn Maryns, Karel Arnaut
- Department: Faculty of Law and Criminology, Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy
- Period: 2026 – 20230
- Themes: Borders, migration governance and people on the move, Health, health care and psychosocial well-being, Migration law, migrants rights and legal Identity, Multilingualism, translation, interpreting and linguistic inequality
Asylum procedures are challenging, partly due to the diverse socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds of all actors involved (such as applicants, officials, interpreters, and lawyers) and the interactions between them. Within these complexities, protection officers must assess the deeply personal stories of applicants against the situation in the country of origin and a strongly developed legal framework, to decide on their need of protection.
The UNPACK project integrates insights from four disciplines – linguistics, anthropology, psychology and law – to examine the lived experiences of those involved. Through in-depth ethnographic research of specific case studies and the broader organizational context, UNPACK seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the asylum procedure.
UNPACK is embedded in a unique co-creative collaboration – the first of its kind in Europe – with the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS).
The UNPACK project integrates insights from four disciplines – linguistics, anthropology, psychology and law – to examine the lived experiences of those involved. Through in-depth ethnographic research of specific case studies and the broader organizational context, UNPACK seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the asylum procedure.
UNPACK is embedded in a unique co-creative collaboration – the first of its kind in Europe – with the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS).