A SOGIESC client who has been in Canada for a year wants to make a refugee claim. The RCIC asks the client if they have participated in any SOGIESC clubs or activities while in Canada. The client answers that they have not. How should the RCIC proceed?

Refusing to represent the client based on a lack of participation in SOGIESC activities is inappropriate. A refugee claim should be based on the individual's experiences and identity, not solely on their involvement in external activities, which may not accurately reflect their situation or identity.

Telling the client they must actively participate in SOGIESC culture is misleading and could create unnecessary pressure. Many individuals may express their identity in different ways that do not involve community activities, and such participation should not be a prerequisite for supporting their claim.

Advising the client to change the basis of their claim undermines their personal narrative and could lead them away from a truthful representation of their identity. A refugee claim should reflect the client's genuine experiences and fears, and not be altered to fit external expectations or norms.