ARC provides a country of origin information research service to support asylum claims and undertakes research, advocacy and training to improve the quality of refugee status determination

Our services

  • Case specific COI research and analysis
  • A free bi-monthly COI Update
  • Country specific, thematic or customised training
  • Policy briefings
  • Research consultancy and project management

Country of Origin Information Update

In order to keep up to date with recent publications and developments in the top refugee producing countries, ARC produces a free bi-monthly COI Update, which also contains notifications of new UKBA country of origin publications.

View the Archive of COI Updates or download the most recent updates here:

COI Update Vol 34 (11/05/2012)

COI Update Vol 33 (30/04/2012)

For notification of COI Updates and publications, please email us to subscribe to our mailing list.

Forthcoming training

The Still Human Still Here Coalition in collaboration with ARC is organising a series of training seminars on how to challenge the conclusions reached in the UKBA's Operational Guidance Notes (OGNs) using country of origin information (COI). The seminars will be held across the UK for lawyers and those providing legal assistance to asylum seekers and are likely to include the Coalition's latest findings from the commentaries on the DRC, Occupied Palestinian Territories and Iraq OGNs, as well as useful techniques and tips on conducting country of origin research. The seminars last one and a half hours and are free. Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Recent Projects

Still Human Still Here
ARC is commissioned by Still Human Still Here, which campaigns to end the destitution of refused asylum seekers in the UK, to produce commentaries for several Operational Guidance Notes (OGN), issued by the UK Border Agency. The commentaries identify inconsistencies and omissions between the available country of origin information and case law and the conclusions reached in the most recent OGN. The commentaries are intended as a tool to assist legal practitioners identify the relevant country of origin information and to help ensure that all relevant material is considered by decision-makers. In September 2011, the Still Human Still Here Coalition, together with Asylum Aid and ARC ran a series of 1 hour free seminars throughout the UK for legal representatives on 'How to Challenge the Conclusions Reached in UKBA's Operational Guidance Notes (OGNs) Using Country of Origin Information' which provided useful techniques and tips on conducting country of origin research.

Visit the Still Human Still Here website

Freedom from Torture
ARC was commissioned by Freedom from Torture (formerly known as the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture) to undertake a literature review of international examples of good practice in relation to transitional justice and holistic rehabilitation initiatives and to prepare a report which identified common multi-disciplinary international standards for conducting ethical research.
Visit the Freedom from Torture website
Environmental Law Foundation
ARC was commissioned by the Environmental Law Foundation to undertake an impact assessment of its 'Know Your Rights' and 'Sustainable Communities' projects which aim to raise awareness about the rights of UK citizens in the planning and environmental sectors, and about the link between poor quality environment and human rights.
Visit the Environmental Law Foundation website
Hungarian Helsinki Committee
COI in Judicial Practice: Practical Cooperation, Exchanging Good Practices and Dialogue on the Assessment of Country Information (COI) as Evidence in the Judicial Review of Asylum Decisions
ARC was appointed as the UK counterparts of an EU-funded project to identify the UK legal provisions that refer to guidance and standards regarding country of origin information.
View the full report and visit the Hungarian Helsinki Committee website