Refugees in Canada deserve a better deal
Every year on June 20 the world honours the courage, resilience and strength of refugees. On this sixth anniversary of the United Nations-designated World Refugee Day, thousands of organisations in hundreds of countries will come together to focus global attention not only on the plight of refugees and the causes of their exile, but also on their determination and will to survive and on the contributions they make to their host communities.
Refugees flee their country not for economic gain but to escape persecution, the threat of imprisonment and even threats to their lives. They need a safe haven where they can recover from mental and physical trauma and rebuild their hopes for a better future. The intolerance that is often at the root of internal displacement and refugee flows is also present in the countries that refugees flee to. Instead of finding empathy and understanding, they are often met with mistrust or scorn.
In Canada the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is currently being ammended to give refugees a right to appeal a ruling based on the merits of their case. To this point, the process – which is determined by one person – does not include an appeal process. The Bill has passed third reading in the House of Commons and it now goes to the Senate for review. PWRDF is a member of the
Canadian Council for Refugees who are calling for an urgent lobby of Senators to build their support for Bill c-280. Please add your voice to this call.
CCR links
For more information visit the CRR website:
RAD Frequently Asked Questions
Refugee Appeal Division Backgrounder
While most refugees want to go home, some cannot safely return. But wherever they are, refugees will always strive to pick up the pieces and start over. The courage and determination demonstrated during their darkest hours will serveaa them well in rebuilding a new life. On World Refugee Day, let us honour them for these qualities and recognise the richness and diversity they bring to our societies.
For a refreshingly youthful view on being Canadian and welcoming refugees in our society have a look at the
CCR Youth Network video on YouTube.
More Links
Canadian Council for Refugees http://www.ccrweb.ca/eng/engfront/frontpage.htm
2007 World Refugee Day Events across Canada http://www.unhcr.ca/wrd/canada.htm
Promotional Materials for World Refugee Day http://www.unhcr.org/events/4636007b2.html