Asylum and Resettlement for Myanmar Refugees in Germany
Many people from Myanmar have to flee the military regime - and also face numerous challenges in the asylum process in Germany. In our detailed report, you can find out more about the challenges faced by refugees from Myanmar in Germany - from the hurdles in the asylum process to the limited opportunities offered by the UNHCR resettlement programme.
With this report, we not only want to draw attention to the difficulties in the German asylum system, but also provide starting points for necessary reforms. We have therefore formulated ten concrete demands and recommendations for better protection and more informed asylum procedures for refugees from Myanmar in Germany. These include, among others, better translation services and easier access to travel documents for foreigners.
Executive Summary
The ongoing conflict and human rights crisis in Myanmar since the military coup in 2021 have forced many Myanmar nationals to flee their country, seeking asylum and protection elsewhere in the world. Despite the grave situation, the crisis remains largely underreported, including in Germany, where Myanmar refugees face numerous challenges in the asylum process. This paper examines the asylum and resettlement experiences of Myanmar refugees in Germany, highlighting their lived experiences and the country’s legal framework. In this way, we aim to raise awareness and to formulate political demands and recommendations that address the challenges faced by Myanmar refugees in Germany. For this, we conducted interviews with Myanmar individuals in Germany, as well as organisations and professionals working in the fields of asylum and resettlement. We also submitted a questionnaire to BAMF and BMI, to which we received responses that further informed our analysis.
Our research reveals a growing number of asylum applications from Myanmar individuals since 2021, with 611 applications submitted from January 2021 to September 2024; 481 asylum decisions were taken in the same period with 37.42% being rejections. However, the rejection numbers are somewhat misleading as Myanmar asylum seekers often secure more favourable outcomes through administrative court appeals, which are not reflected in the BAMF statistics. Despite our expectation that BAMF branches handling Myanmar cases should be well-informed, we identified significant gaps in their understanding of Myanmar. The delayed BAMF reassessment of the situation in Myanmar in August 2024, which finally recognised the internal armed conflict throughout the country, is expected to significantly impact asylum decisions in Germany. As a result, many asylum seekers will receive subsidiary protection status. However, this status presents a new obstacle for Myanmar nationals, as they are required to attempt to renew their passports through the military-controlled embassy in order to receive a travel document for foreigners under subsidiary protection. This renewal is nearly impossible due to the embassy's refusal to fulfil its obligations.
The insights from the interviews with Myanmar refugees in Germany reveal that they face various obstacles, including limited knowledge of Myanmar among BAMF employees, significant language barriers, poor translation services during asylum interviews, and the lasting impact of trauma on mental and physical health. Female asylum seekers also face harassment in public but often hesitate to confront it due to their vulnerable status. Additionally, a lack of rights awareness leaves many asylum seekers exposed to discrimination during the asylum process, while the military-controlled embassy in Germany forces Myanmar citizens to apply for asylum by denying them the extension of passports. LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers often experience discomfort in asylum application interviews, which hinders their ability to fully disclose their identities, while skilled Myanmar refugees often struggle to find employment due to the lack of recognition of their qualifications.
Despite Germany's pledge to resettle refugees under the UNHCR Resettlement program, no Myanmar nationals have been resettled to Germany since the military coup, highlighting the program's limitations in addressing the urgent needs of refugees from Myanmar.
The paper concludes with specific demands and recommendations for German authorities, advocating for stronger protection and improved support for Myanmar refugees. These demands and recommendations call for reforms such as better-informed asylum decisions, improved access to translation services, and an expanded resettlement program. They also emphasise the importance of Germany's role in safeguarding the rights of refugees in line with its commitment to human rights.
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Asylum and Resettlement for Myanmar Refugees in Germany
© German Solidarity Myanmar, 2024
Publication date: 04.12.2024
Authors: Stefanie Clamor, Verena Hofer, Saw Kyaw Zin Khay
Titelbild: Phoe Thar
Fotografie (S. 8f): BaTi
Illustration (S. 17, 19, 23): Phoe Thar
Artwork (S. 21): Min Ma Naing
Layout: Aung Kyaw Min
About German Solidarity Myanmar
German Solidarity Myanmar (GSM) is a young activist organisation that supports the Myanmar democracy movement through political education, public relations and advocacy. The organisation is committed to a more decisive stance and proactive Myanmar policy on the part of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union.