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Gender proportionality in refugee resettlement

Resolution number
16
Whereas
  1. The UNHCR estimates that 80% of the world's refugees are women and their dependants;
  2. Women refugees comprise a high proportion of the refugee camp populations;
  3. As a result of the gender consultations the need for gender proportionality in Canada's resettlement activities and the possibility of establishing targets for 1995 has been recognized and referred as a major topic to the broad consultation on immigration;
  4. Between 1985 and 1991 women comprised only 23% of the principal applicants of the refugees landed in Canada;
  5. Women refugees face various obstacles throughout the process of overseas selection, admission and integration in Canada. The strong emphasis on immigration criteria uses inappropriate measurement tools to assess a woman's ability to successfully establish in Canada;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR communicate with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration recommending:

  1. An action plan for the next five years (1995-2000) be developed by government and NGO representatives to enable the enactment of gender quotas of a minimum of 50% women as principal applicants by the year 1997. The development of this action plan should be developed in conjunction with stakeholders;
  2. A minimum level be set for the Women at Risk Programme, effective immediately. This level would include CR1 and CR5 Women at Risk and would access the 20% of the 1994 AAP monies originally destined for indigent immigrants.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement