Particular social group is the fifth Refugee Convention ground and the most analytically complex. UK law requires both a shared protected characteristic (immutable or fundamental to identity) and distinct social perception in the country of origin.
PSG claims encompass women facing gender-based persecution, trafficking victims, clan membership, caste and class-based groups, former military or police personnel, and other socially distinct groups. Persecution experts assess whether the claimed PSG meets both limbs of the test in the specific country context.
The social perception test requires that the group is recognised as a distinct group in society, not merely a statistical category. Expert reports address country-specific social structures, documented targeting of the group, and the Convention nexus between group membership and the feared harm.
Related Case Types
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a particular social group in UK asylum law?
A particular social group is a group sharing a protected characteristic, an immutable characteristic or one fundamental to identity, that is socially perceived as a distinct group in the country of origin. UK law requires both the shared protected characteristic and distinct social perception. Persecution experts assess whether the claimed PSG meets both limbs in the specific country context.
Can trafficking victims form a particular social group?
Yes. Former victims of trafficking can constitute a PSG in appropriate country contexts where their status is known and creates a risk of re-trafficking or other harm. Persecution experts assess the social perception of trafficking victims in the specific country and the risk they face on return.