Country Conditions & Country of Origins Information (COI) Expert

A country conditions expert provides detailed information about a variety of issues of an individual’s country of origin.  The information provided could be in a report or when indicated with telephonic/in court oral testimony. This information could include general information on a country’s background, and its overall human rights issues and trends. Some examples of information that would be included in a country conditions report would include: human rights and security issues; political situation and its legal structures, resources, and framework; cultural issues and attitudes toward groups; humanitarian issues and economic conditions; recent incidents; geography and information related to the country and the city where the individual is from.  

A country conditions report can also provide information for individuals filing for asylum, hardship waivers, VAWA (Violence against Women Act), U-Visa, T-Visa, and other immigration-based claims.  It could also provide information that could be relevant for individuals that are in removal hearings in front of immigration judges and the board of immigration appeals. The report and/telephonic/oral/court testimony could include information from: news articles, government reports, non-governmental organizations, and other pertinent information relevant to their claim for refugee status or for other forms of protection.  In many cases research supporting impact of deportation, mental health and physical issues, educational and health resources, disability, amongst others is reviewed in the country of origin. The report completed by a country conditions expert/country of origin information expert is neutral and is not geared towards a particular outcome for protection. 

Country conditions experts could be used in a variety of other settings and situations including providing consultation on politics, media, policies, and other infrastructures on attitudes towards groups, intergroup conflicts, human rights issues, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).  Guidance and consultation can also be provided on ways to implement and address these issues in policies and structures in order to meet the United Nations 2030 goals.