The definition of ‘elderly’ varies in Member States and is generally linked to chronological age. It is good practice to consider the concept of old age in relation to the circumstances from which the applicant comes.

Disorders of Extreme Stress, Not Otherwise Specified (DESNOS): Characteristic of DESNOS is trauma which involves interpersonal victimisation, multiple traumatic events, or events of prolonged duration. Disturbances in six areas of functioning are required for the diagnosis: (1) regulation of affect and impulses; (2) attention or consciousness; (3) self-perception; (4) relations with others; (5) somatisation; and (6) systems of meaning.

Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

Based on Article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

confinement of an applicant by a Member State within a particular place, where the applicant is deprived of his or her freedom of movement;

Based on Article 2(h) RCD recast.

Confidentiality refers to the treatment of information. When information is held in confidence, and is therefore confidential, it can only be shared if allowed for in national law to authorised organisation. The shared information is limited in scope only to the information necessary for these parties in order to carry out their functions.  If not allowed for in law, the holder of the information will need to be given consent by the individual to share the information with another organisation (e.g. personal information shared with an attorney, a physician, a psychologist, etc.

third-country national or stateless person below the age of 18 years;

The term is used as equivalent to ‘minor’.

describes an individual who is physically, romantically and/or emotionally attracted to both men and women;

Based on the definition of the EASO Training Curriculum module ‘Gender, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation’.

Age assessment is the process by which authorities seek to establish the chronological age, or range of age, or determine whether an individual is an adult or a child. The assessment must be conducted in a scientific, safe, child and gender-sensitive and fair manner, avoiding any risk of violation of the physical integrity of the child, giving due respect to human dignity. Age assessment should only be used where there are grounds for serious doubt of an individual’s age.

the development of specific fear behaviours that last from three days to one month after a traumatic event;

Based on ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action;