Exploring the significance of the Kanun in young Albanian people's asylum Journeys

This report, entitled “Exploring the significance of the Kanun in young Albanian people's asylum Journeys”, focuses on one issue that may affect Albanians' chances of receiving a positive asylum outcome. This issue stems from a mismatch between the number of Albanians who apply for asylum protection and those who receive a positive outcome, with existing evidence suggesting that the Home Office treats them distinctly compared to applicants from other countries. Hence, this pilot study explores the role that the Kanun (a form of customary law) may play in contributing to this distinct treatment within the UK’s asylum regime. The report draws on data gathered during a creative methods workshop in London with 11 young Albanians who were at various stages of the asylum process. It found that the Kanun significantly shapes some young people’s norms, both influencing the reasons for claiming protection and the difficulties they face engaging with asylum processes and procedures. The report suggests that the UK’s asylum systems need to better integrate culturally specific factors to ensure that claims from applicants are better understood, as well as the barriers these applicants encounter. The briefing was supported by the SSP Internship Programme and contributions from two former SSP third-year students (Maria Ramanov and Yasmeen Jaber) and was funded through generous seedcorn funding awarded by the School of Sociology and Social Policy (SSP).

 

Dr Will Shankley is a lecturer in sociology at the University of Liverpool and previously worked as an assistant professor in sociology at the University of Nottingham. Will has also held positions at the University of Manchester and University of Birmingham and worked across projects with refugees and asylum seekers in South Asia (India, Nepal and Sri Lanka).