Overseas Protection and Resettlement

Overseas processing and targets

Resolution number
10
Whereas
  1. Overseas processing targets are inadequate, as reported in the “No Faster Way?” and “More than a Nightmare” documents, to meet demand in the family reunification and refugee sponsorship queues;
  2. Canada has an obligation to respond to the legitimate needs of Canadians, including its refugee sponsorship community and its separated families.
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Urge the Government to review the 60/40 ratio in order to increase the numbers of Humanitarian class cases being processed.
  2. Urge the Government to establish and implement service standards for all immigration categories which are simple, fast (in less than 8-12 months) and accessible.
  3. Reaffirm a consistent application for all posts of the policy priorizing refugees.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement
Subject
Levels
Overseas processing

Iraq

Resolution number
9
Whereas
  1. The violence and lawlessness in Iraq continues to escalate and the possibility of a peaceful solution does not seem imminent,
  2. Many Canadian families have been impacted by resulting tragedies,
  3. Relatives and friends and former neighbours of Canadians are fleeing Iraq for Syria, Jordan and Turkey on a daily basis,
  4. They feel compelled to flee because a member of their family has already been targeted and killed, because they have received death threats, because their children have been kidnapped and held for ransom or because of vendettas in the context of lawlessness,
  5. The UNHCR has suspended Refugee Status Determination for Iraqis and
  6. Those who have sought asylum in Turkey, Syria and Jordan are struggling to meet their basic needs because they left their belongings behind and they are not allowed to work.
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Urgently request the UNHCR to immediately:
    i)    Resume refugee status determination for Iraqis in the region,
    ii)    Provide care and support for Iraqis who have sought asylum in these countries,
    iii)    Dialogue with resettlement countries including Canada to implement resettlement as a solution for Iraqis in the region,
  2. Urge the Government of Canada to immediately:
    i)    Dialogue with the UNHCR to facilitate the resettlement of Iraqi refugees through the Private Sponsorship Program as well as the Government Assisted Refugee Program,
    ii)    Increase staff in the Damascus Visa Post to accommodate the increased need for resettlement from the region and to expedite cases already in process.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement

Support for repatriation

Resolution number
8
Whereas
  1. UNHCR’s stated mandate is to facilitate and support the voluntary repatriation of refugees in safety and dignity to their home countries when conditions within the country are sufficiently stable to sustain their return.
  2. The international community has strong interest involuntary repatriation as a durable solution for refugees
  3. The international community are donors of UNHCR and financially support its efforts.
  4. The levels of support to sustain persons during their repatriation process are grossly inadequate and do not provide the means forre-establishment. This is the situation for Sierra Leoneans currently repatriating.
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR request the government of Canada to work with the UNHCR and other countries to increase the levels of support and security given to refugees repatriating through UNHCR initiatives.

Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement

Darfur

Resolution number
7
Whereas
  1. The political situation in the Darfur Region of the Sudan continues to deteriorate, with widespread human rights violations leading to deaths of an estimated quarter of a million people.
  2. The government of the Sudan refuses to yield to the international pressures to put an end to the conflict.
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Urge the Canadian government to:

    i)    Use all available means, including by adding its voice to those who have already named the situation as genocide, to ensure that the international community intervenes to stop the abuses.
    ii)    Put more pressure on the Sudan government to immediately end the conflict against the Fur people by suspending all aid to the Sudan except humanitarian aid.
    iii)    Encourage and support the African Union to intercede in the conflict in Darfur.
    iv)    Assist the UNHCR in providing humanitarian aid for safety, health and maintenance of refugees in Chad and internally displaced persons in the Sudan.

  2. Urge the UNHCR to expedite the resettlement processing of vulnerable Furians in refugee camps in Chad.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement

Uighurs in detention in Guantanamo Bay

Resolution number
10
Whereas
  1. There are 22 Uighurs, Chinese nationals, being detained by the USA in Guantanamo Bay since their arrest in Afghanistan following the events of September11, 2001;
  2. The USA has determined that these Uighurs do not pose a threat to national security but is considering refoulement back to China where they will face persecution and torture at the hands of the regime that views them as terrorist activists advocating separation of their homeland;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Urge the UNHCR to publicly demand that the Uighurs are not refouled to China;
  2. Urge the UNHCR to intervene to seek a durable solution for these Uighurs as a means for their protection including to facilitate the resettlement of the Uighurs to the USA, where US nationals of Uighur heritage have offered to assist in their settlement, and/or resettlement to other countries as a means for their protection from refoulement or continued detention at Guantanamo;
  3. Use its opportunities at meetings with Canadian government officials and the UNHCR and at international fora to further the protection and achievement of a durable solution for the Uighurs currently held in Guantanamo.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement

Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees in detention in Israel

Resolution number
9
Whereas
  1. Article 31 of the 1951 Refugee Convention exempts refugees from being punished because of their illegal entry or presence;
  2. UNHCR’s Revised Guidelines on the Detention of Asylum Seekers states that “[a]s a general rule, asylum seekers should not be detained”, and that “the use of detention, in many instances, is contrary to the norms and principles of international law.”
  3. There are 68 refugee claimants from Ethiopia and Eritrea who are detained in Israel for prolonged periods amounting to 18 months and without obtaining adequate assistance from any party except for the African Refugees Development Centre(ARDC);
  4. The detention practices are inconsistent with established human rights standards;
  5. The Israeli authorities, after long discussion and debate, have agreed to release these detainees on an estimated bail of between $8,500-10,000 CAD for two months if there is tangible evidence of a sponsorship application to Canada and for 12months if an invitation for an interview at the Canadian Embassy is extended;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Urge the UNHCR to demand compliance that Israel comply with the 1951Convention and the 1967Protocol, and adhere to UNHCR’s standards on detention regarding refugees.
  2. Urge the UNHCR to intervene in accordance with the above-mentioned UNHCR Guidelines on the Detention of Asylum Seekers so that the illegally detained refugees are released and obtain fair procedures for timely review.
  3. Urge CIC to request its visa post in Tel Aviv to fulfill the following:
    a)process each application and make determination in a fair manner consistent with the IRPA guidelines;
    b)process the private sponsorship of these refugees in an expedited and consistent manner.
  4. Work with the African Refugees Development Center (ARDC) on all issues regarding African refugees and asylum seekers residing in Israel with an intention/process to immigrate/resettle in Canada.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement

Iraqis in Europe

Resolution number
8
Whereas
  1. There are many Iraqis in European countries who have been refused refugee status by these countries,
  2. A number of these people have no durable solution in these European countries and have family members in Canada who have been accepted by Canada under the Convention Refugee or Country of Asylum Class,
  3. These people will be deported to Iraq as soon as the host countries consider it safe,
  4. These people no longer have family or homes in Iraq,
  5. The assisted relative program and last remaining member of the family programs no longer exist,
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR strongly urge Citizenship and Immigration Canada to develop a humanitarian and compassionate mechanism to allow these families to be reunited with family members in Canada.

Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement

Enhancing the role of NGOs in group processing of refugees to Canada

Resolution number
7
Whereas
  1. The UNHCR has demonstrated a keen interest in enhancing the role of NGOs in refugee resettlement, in particular in group processing initiatives;
  2. The 2003-2004 Group Processing Initiative, that is currently under evaluation by CIC, reveals some areas for improvement that may be addressed in part by NGO participation;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Request CIC to consult with partners and stakeholders on the benefits of including NGO personnel in all phases of group resettlement initiatives from identification and referral to post-arrival settlement;
  2. Encourage CIC to invite CCR (SAHs and settlement agencies) to pilot the inclusion of NGO personnel in forthcoming group processing initiatives in the field;
  3. Urge CIC to ensure that the CCR (SAHs and settlement agencies) and community partners in destination communities have sufficient, timely information to identify gaps and challenges and to plan how they will meet those needs, including by CIC placing Canadia NGO personnel in the countries of asylum in order to establish effective, timely linkages between the asylum countries and destining communities.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement
Subject
Overseas processing

Refugees in Ethiopia and Eritrea

Resolution number
10
Whereas
  1. United Nations and western countries have expressed serious concerns that war might break out between Eritrea and Ethiopia;
  2. Eritrea and Ethiopia are moving their troops to the border and preparing for war;
  3. If war breaks out, civilians, especially Eritrean refugees who are in Ethiopia and Ethiopian refugees in Eritrea, will face the consequence of the war as in the earlier rounds of wars;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Urge the UNHCR and CIC to recognize Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia and Ethiopian refugees in Eritrea as in urgent need of protection.
  2. Urge the Canadian government to expedite processing of private and government sponsorship of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia and Ethiopian refugees in Eritrea.
  3. Urge the UNHCR that the cases of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia and Ethiopian refugees in Eritrea who have been accepted by UNHCR as in need of protection and who wish to be resettled in Canada be referred to the relevant Canadian embassy.
  4. Ask the Canadian government to work towards peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement

Protection solutions for Haitians

Resolution number
9
Whereas
  1. Human rights violations in Haiti have been described as catastrophic by UNHCR officials;
  2. Many persons are unable to escape Haiti in order to seek protection as refugees;
  3. There are very limited options for protection in the region;
  4. The situation calls for a comprehensive regional protection plan;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Advocate for the addition of Haiti to Canada’s Source Country Resettlement Program.
  2. Urge the Canadian government and the UNHCR to find protection solutions for Haitians, both refugees and those internally displaced, including resettlement to Canada of vulnerable persons.
  3. Join with NGOs in the USA and elsewhere in the Americas seeking a comprehensive solution to the protection needs of Haitians, both IDPs and refugees.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement
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