Separated Children: CIC Interviews

Resolution number
8
Whereas
  1. Separated children are by definition without the care and protection of their parents or other primary caregivers, often face many dangers during their flight and arrive in Canada disoriented and frightened;
  2. Front-end security interviews require separated children to respond to often lengthy and detailed questions including those related to their refugee claim;
  3. Separated children would be unlikely to know of the 1951 Refuge Convention reasons and their flight reasons are frequently multi-factorial and may include child-specific violations of human rights;
  4. It is inappropriate that children under 18 be interviewed in the absence of a parent or guardian;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR request to CIC that immigration examinations with separated children only be conducted in the presence of a properly appointed designated representative or guardian.

 
Subject
Working Group
Inland Protection