Report on the Situation of Human Rights of Asylum Seekers Within the Canadian Refugee Determination System
This report examines a series of issues relating to the situation of human rights of persons subject to the refugee determination system of Canada. That system has been recognized by many sources, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as demonstrating a strong commitment to providing durable solutions for refugees in need of protection.
In conclusion, the system as a whole is both humanitarian in spirit and highly generous in terms of its results. It plays a central role in the State’s efforts to respect the right to seek asylum and other attendant rights, and serves as a model in many respects. The ongoing interest of the State in refining the immigration and refugee system to better serve the interests of claimants and the citizenry in conformity with international obligations and domestic law provides the necessary basis for further enhancing compliance with its human rights obligations.
Related UN Resources:
- UNHCR Statistical Year Books on: Displacement, Protection & Solutions
- Core Documents Related to Refugee Resettlement
- UN Human Rights System: Related Documents
Related UN Resolutions:
- G.A. Res. 217A (III), U.N. Doc. A/810, at 71 (1948)
- G.A. Res. 428(V), U.N. GAOR Supp. No. 20, Annex, U.N.Doc. A/429 (1950)
- .A. Res. 2200 (XXI), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 52, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966)
The United Nations Refugee Agency: 2013 Global Appeal Update
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has just released the Global Appeal 2013 Update. The Global Appeal is an invaluable guide for general readers to UNHCR’s worldwide operations, which is categorised into Regions; Africa, Middle East & North Africa, Asia & the Pacific, Europe and the Americas.
The Humanitarian situation in a number of UNHCR’s operations has evolved considerably in 2012 with many emergencies and new situations arising. At the same time, the organization is focusing attention on the strategic priorities in 2010 and 2011 that pointed to areas for sustained efforts, particularly nutrition, education and water supply. Responding effectively will involve ever greater balancing between competing priorities, a necessary yet difficult task.
Operations have updated their comprehensive needs assessments and plans for 2013, using the GSPs to prioritize what is central to UNHCR’s mandate. They will continue to pursue the relevant objectives and indicators from UNHCR’s results-based management framework. Targets for achievement in 2013 have also been updated and operations will monitor progress at the field level.
While the GSPs have multiple aspects, UNHCR will provide an overview of results based on indicators that are commonly used by operations. By grouping the situations using these common indicators, UNHCR has established levels of “Global Engagement” for the operational GSPs to provide a lens through which to view and measure developments in priority areas.
RELATED UN RESOURCES:
Lebanon: Labour Force Survey among Palestinian Refugees Living in Camps and Gatherings in Lebanon, 2011
This Labour Force Survey, conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and European Union, tells how Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon continue to find jobs despite legal and administrative hurdles, but face exploitative working conditions.
Palestinians are paid 20 per cent less than Lebanese workers for performing the same work. Their average monthly income is below the Lebanese minimum wage of 675,000 LBP (US$ 450).
As most of Palestinians are poorly educated and lacking skills, they eke out a living as casual workers in low-paid jobs in commerce and construction.
Few of these workers have a proper employment contract and next to none have access to health coverage, paid and sick leave. Very few are entitled to a pension or end-of-service indemnity.
The situation is particularly difficult for Palestinian working women. They tend to be better educated than their male counterparts, but are still underrepresented in the workforce and receive lower salaries.
Up to 280,000 Palestinian refugees live in 12 camps and 42 gatherings across Lebanon.
Legal amendments had no impact.
Related UN Resources:
United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) HomePage
UNHCR and ILO Workshop on “Refugees and labour mobility” 2012
Policy Development and Evaluation of UNHCR - durable solutions for refugees
June 20 is the World Refugee Day
. The UN General Assembly, on 4 December 2000, adopted resolution 55/76 where it noted that 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) had agreed to have International Refugee Day coincide with Africa Refugee Day on 20 June.
Global activities observing the day and more information is available at: http://wwlw.unhcr.org/4fe1ad369.htm
