Part 2: Asylum Chapter 8: Removal to safe third country Section 33: Article 1(A)(2): Reasons for Persecution
Overview: This section provides a definition of the term "particular social group" as used in Article 1(A)(2) of the Refugee Convention, and provides examples illustrating the meaning of race, religion and other terms used in the Refugee Convention.
	Background: For an individual to be considered a refugee, they must have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for a Convention reason, one of which may be membership of a "particular social group". The UK currently relies on the definition of "particular social group" provided in regulation 6 of the 2006 Regulations, which is revoked by section 30(4). The intention of this section is to create a definition in primary legislation.
	Subsection 1 provides examples of matters that are included in concepts from Article 1(A)(2) of the Refugee Convention which can be the basis of persecution. This includes race, religion, and nationality.
	Subsections 2 to 4 provide two conditions, both of which must be satisfied by a group for it to meet the definition of "particular social group". Firstly, all members of the group must share an innate characteristic or common background which cannot be changed, or a characteristic or belief which is so central to a person’s identity they should not be forced to renounce it, for example a religious belief. Secondly, the group’s possession of such characteristics must distinguish it from the relevant society at large.
	Subsection 5 provides a particular social group may be based on a characteristic of sexual orientation but does not include acts that are criminal in the UK.