CCR Resolutions Database

1. Iraqi refugees have been confined to Rafha camp in Saudi Arabia for 12 years, awaiting a durable solution;
2. UNHCR has requested Canada to participate in the resettlement of these refugees;
3. Participation in the resettlement effort is essential to the overall resolution of the plight of these refugees, as Saudi Arabia has made a commitment to grant a measure of local integration to those refugees who do not wish to be resettled, if progress is made towards resettlement of the others;
4. Canada has responded that they will consider participating in a responsibility-sharing effort but has been unable to specify a time-line;

1. Twenty-seven member organizations of CCR responded to a CCR request by providing anecdotal information about problems arising with the use of the Interim Federal Health (IFH) program;
2. The report developed by CCR was raised with CIC in a conference call at which time CIC did not recognize many of the problems as indicators of systemic weaknesses within the IFH program;

1. There is documented evidence of corruption in some overseas offices of the UNHCR and NGO partners who implement UNHCR programs;
2. UNHCR itself has recognized this problem in its Kenya offices, and has taken measures to address the problem, one such measure being the removal of staff accused of corruption;
3. NGOs too have power over refugees and some have been accused of corruption and exploitation of refugees, particularly women and children in West Africa;

1. The CCR has become increasingly involved in international activities and consultations with respect to refugee protection, resettlement and integration;
2. International forums and discussions impact Canada’s own policies and programs within the global context;

1. The situation of refugees in Pakistan is increasingly precarious;
2. Conditions necessary for repatriation as a durable or even physically safe solution will not be established in Afghanistan for some time to come;
3. The level of instability requires a special level of response from all countries that provide humanitarian support and resettlement options for Afghans externally displaced;
4. The Canadian Government is in a position to respond to the situation of these persons with concrete actions;
5. A clear response by the Canadian Government will send a strong positive message about Afghan refugees to the Canadian public;

Liberians in the Krisan Zansule camp in Ghana have not been supplied any humanitarian assistance (including food and medical care) by UNHCR since June 2000;

1. The government’s document “Building on a Strong Foundation” calls for closer working relationships with partners, and SAHs are key partners in the private sponsorship program;
2. Current timelines for the completion of concepts such as Private Partner Sponsorship and Corporate Sponsorship do not allow sufficient time for consultation, discussion and input with partners.

1. Large numbers of letters, e-mails and faxes have been received by CCR members alleging torture in Ethiopia by the government and its agencies;
2. Ethiopia is a signatory to the UN Convention against Torture;

1. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has expressed; a desire for a coordinated continuum in the refugee sponsorship process;
2. CIC has issued a tender for proposal for an In-Canada Service Provider (ISP), the latest with a closing date of May 29, 2001;
3. The ISP tender should have been posted for the public after budget was secured;
4. The RSTP was extended to June 30, 2001 to facilitate transition to the ISP;
5. There is another indefinite delay in the July 1, 2001 starting date for the ISP;
6. There is a significant increase in new Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) to whom RSTP/ISP would be indispensable in order for them to carry out their work effectively;
7. The training and resources developed by the RSTP have enhanced SAHs effectiveness in refugee sponsorship;
8. There will be a significant gap with the dissolution of the RSTP on June 30, 2001, which will result in the loss of infrastructure and knowledgeable staff;

1. By resolution passed in 1993 the formation of a joint committee of private sponsorship representatives and CIC personnel for the purpose of improving communications was mandated;
2. This committee as originally mandated has successfully negotiated the current Sponsorship Agreement and is now engaged in the drafting of a new version of the agreement, as well as having been involved in working at a number of other on-going issues related to the private sponsorship of refugees;
3. CIC personnel present at these meetings have been inconsistent in number and in the level of decision-making power, resulting in a lack of policy-making ability as well as results-oriented discussion;
4. The SAH representatives have contributed far beyond a normal volunteer capacity in the hope of achieving results in the area of policy making;

1. In resolution 9 of November 1996, the CCR committed itself to exposing atrocities by the Sudanese government upon the people of southern Sudan;
2. Anglican members of their refugee network have worked with Sudanese in Canada to sponsor refugees from Sudan;
3. The war in Sudan, which is in part responsible for the displacement of millions of people, has been fuelled by oil revenues from the expanding operation in which Talisman Energy is a major partner;
4. The national pension fund of the Anglican Church of Canada has invested heavily in the Talisman shares;

on November 29, 2000, the Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)representatives in attendance at the SAH Forum voted on and passed with an overwhelming majority three resolutions expressing their support for:

1. formally situating the SAH network within CCR, 2. submitting an SAH application for the In-Canada Service-Provider contract,
2. submitting this proposal under the umbrella of CCR;

1. There are minor orphans of war or civil strife or in other refugee-like situations whose future is limited without resettlement;
2. Current procedures for the sponsorship of orphaned minors are inadequate;

1. CCR continues to oppose the Source Country List, believing that all countries should be treated equally;
2. Conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea and its racial overtones has rendered many people in mixed marriage situations or being descendants thereof, effectively stateless, unwelcome and persecuted in both countries;
3. Refugees from Sierra Leone are being forcibly repatriated to Sierra Leone;

1. The war in Sudan continues to be fuelled by oil revenues from the expanding operation in which Talisman Energy is a major partner;
2. The war continues to be characterized by deliberate targeting of civilian populations in the South, forcible displacements and disruptions to and targeting of humanitarian aid operations and workers;

1. There are massive human rights abuses against Sierra Leonean refugees in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and the Gambia;
2. The CCR appreciates the special Sierra Leone program introduced by the federal government in 2000-2001;

1. There is a massive exodus of persons of Eritrean ethnicity to neighbouring countries, particularly Sudan, as well as massive internal displacement, due to the escalating war between Ethiopia and Eritrea;
2. Due to the war, the UNHCR is unable to protect Eritreans;

1. Countries interpret the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees on the basis of widely differing standards and criteria;
2. CIC is inconsistent in its policy in interpreting what constitutes a durable solution;

1. Many victims of the widespread violence of May 1998 in Indonesia remain in safe-houses under the care and protection of indigenous humanitarian organizations;
2. Ethno-racially and religiously motivated violence continues in many regions and provinces throughout Indonesia;
3. The lack of the rule of law prevails in Indonesia as evidenced by the over 200,000 East Timorese nationals who remain trapped in West Timor and elsewhere in Indonesia, held hostage and victimized by the Indonesian army and their surrogate militias;
4. The Indonesian military continue to hold many of the more senior and strategic portfolios in the Cabinet of the recently elected government;
5. The Source Country Class was designed to facilitate effective protection for internally displaced persons;
6. During the crisis of May 1998 and persistently through the violence which has continued to the present time Canada Immigration has refused to place Indonesia on the Source Country list due to the officially expressed fear of thereby compromising the considerable bilateral economic ties between Indonesia and Canada;

1. The CCR supports openness, transparency, democracy and accountability in refugee affairs;
2. The public process relating to the setting of resettlement levels has virtually disappeared;

1. Canada has recognized the need for the protection of Sudanese, and has included Sudan on the Source Country schedule;
2. There is no permanent Canadian processing presence in the Sudan;
3. Displaced Sudanese are forced to flee in great danger;
4. A visa officer is deployed to the Sudan extremely seldom. This is an inadequate response to the profound protection needs;

1. Canada has recognized the situation which prevails in DRC and has put DRC on the list of source countries;
2. The situation of persecution and the need for protection of the Tutsis in DRC are known;
3. A number of Tutsis (men, women and children) have been in detention or in hiding since October 1998 as a result of ethnic persecution;
4. Many of them have family in Canada;
5. A number of sponsorship groups confronted with this issue are ready to cooperate to find a solution to this

The CCR has been traditionally been concerned with the root causes of mass exoduses;

1. The UNHCR has a program providing firewood to refugees in Dadaab camp;
2. This program has been instrumental in reducing the incidences of rape of refugee women when they go out to collect firewood;
3. Funding for this program ends in June 1999;

1. The war in Sierra Leone has been going on for the past nine years, creating a massive humanitarian crisis and massive outflow of refugees;
2. There is no durable solution in the immediate and medium terms;