Policy and Advocacy
The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) is a leading voice in the movement to rebuild the U.S. asylum system and expand access to protection for women, children, LGBTQ+ people, and others seeking refuge. Our Policy & Advocacy team serves as a critical resource on asylum to policymakers, journalists, and the public. We place people seeking asylum at the center of our advocacy, amplifying the stories and leadership of courageous survivors of violence.
Climate change and climate-related disasters are quickly becoming one of the leading causes forcing refugees to flee their homes, often across international borders. CGRS’s climate advocacy initiative aims to advance protections for climate-displaced people on national and international levels.
CGRS was founded in 1999 after Professor Karen Musalo’s groundbreaking legal victory in Matter of Kasinga, which recognized persecution motivated by gender as grounds for asylum for the first time in U.S. law. Today, we continue that work to advocate for policies that advocate for gender-based persecution as a basis for asylum.
CGRS has special expertise in conditions in the countries from which many asylum seekers flee, including Mexico, Haiti, and Northern Central America. We work with civil society organizations in the United States and Latin America to address the root causes of forced migration and contribute to the development of a more robust regional system of refugee protection and advocate in Congress, with the executive branch, the United Nations, and other instruments of government.
CGRS works with various national and international organizations and coalitions to better amplify our message and build a network of support for our initiatives.
CGRS is a founding member and leader in #WelcomeWithDignity, a landmark campaign to transform how the United States welcomes people seeking asylum.
CGRS and UC Law SF host Kate Jastram, our Director of Policy and Advocacy as the first Sergio Vieira de Mello Chair in the United States, partnering with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
CGRS is a member of the Latin American Working Group that works closely with civil society partners in Latin America to mobilize organizations and networks to advocate for just U.S. policies.
CGRS is part of the Refugee Council USA coalition focused on supporting and protecting the rights of forcibly displaced people.