Violence and security in the context of flight and asylum Findings and intervention options for professionals from science and practice

Flight and violence are closely linked. In many cases, violence is the reason for flight, and flight is the opportunity to escape this violence. In favourable cases, the flight ends in a place that offers safety and protection. In legal terms, asylum - formal protection by a state - describes a protective space for people who are persecuted in their home country because of their nationality, religion, political beliefs or membership of a particular social group. However, it is questionable how far-reaching this protection is and what limits it. Does asylum enable a return to normality, to a subjectively fulfilling everyday life worth living? Is asylum synonymous with freedom from violence? 

The results of an ongoing research project by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) on the interplay between protection and violence in the context of flight and asylum show that the everyday lives of refugees are characterised by experiences of insecurity and violence even after a positive asylum decision. Among other things, this has a severe impact on the well-being of these people and on their participation in various areas of society. The interplay between protection and violence in the context of flight and asylum is therefore an important, overarching topic for various fields of social work. 

This conference will bring together experts from academia and practice to discuss research findings and jointly develop recommendations for action. The main focus will be on the implications of scientific findings for social work practice and related professions. In addition, the participants' views on a number of questions are of interest, including the following: 

• How can different areas of social work respond to experiences of protection and violence in the context of flight and asylum?

• What parallels can be drawn with the experiences of other social groups without refugee experience?
• What are the particular challenges and problems in the context of flight and asylum? 
• What is the need for action and research?  

We would like to discuss these and other questions with the participants of the symposium in moderated workshops and then summarise the results in a written documentation.