DistantNews
Support us
Colombian Wins Right to Asylum Appointment After 17 Months of Struggle
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Colombian Wins Right to Asylum Appointment After 17 Months of Struggle

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Spanish courts recognized a Colombian citizen's right to seek asylum after a 17-month struggle to obtain an appointment.
  • The National Court ruled that administrative delays violated the applicant's right to effective access to international protection.
  • This ruling is the fourth of its kind, emphasizing the need for accessible asylum procedures in Spain.

Spain's National Court has affirmed the right of a Colombian national to obtain an appointment for his asylum application, acknowledging his year-long, five-month effort to formally lodge his request. The court's decision highlights significant administrative hurdles faced by individuals seeking international protection in Spain.

The court found that the administration's actions were incompatible with the requirement for effective, simple, and rapid access to the international protection procedure, as mandated by both national and European regulations. This ruling addresses the persistent obstacles encountered by those fleeing conflict, persecution, or severe human rights violations in their home countries, issues frequently denounced by NGOs and rights institutions.

the administration's actions are not compatible with effective, simple, and rapid access to the international protection procedure.

— Spanish National CourtStating the administrative delays violated the applicant's rights.

The Colombian applicant demonstrated repeated attempts to secure an appointment via the electronic portal from May 2022 to March 2023, followed by unsuccessful phone calls from April to October 2023. His persistent efforts included filing complaints with state digital intelligence bodies and the Ombudsman's office, and notifying the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The National Court deemed the applicant's intention to seek international protection and the "presumed act of denial" of his appointment request as proven. This is crucial because, after six months of submitting an asylum request, applicants are legally permitted to work in Spain while awaiting a decision. The court's decision, supported by the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR), is the fourth such ruling, underscoring the judiciary's role in ensuring compliance with asylum laws and European directives that oblige authorities to facilitate access to protection procedures.

This is the fourth ruling of its kind, and it is especially relevant just days before...

— Elena MuñozState coordinator of the legal service at CEAR, commenting on the significance of the ruling.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog