 
"Safe Third Country" Agreement puts
Refugees at Risk
19 June 2002
See also
A coalition of Canadian refugee advocacy groups are very concerned
about a "safe third country" deal that is being struck
between Canada and the United States, because, in fact, the U.S
is not a safe place for refugee claimants. The deal will mean that
most refugee claimants who arrive in Canada, through the U.S., will
be returned to the U.S. to make their claims there, and vice versa.
The government hopes to have it signed this summer.
"U.S. asylum practices fail to adhere to international law,
respect internationally agreed-upon procedures used in determining
refugee status, and appropriately apply the Convention refugee definition",
says Amnesty International. "Until these issues are addressed,
Amnesty International is of the view that the U.S. cannot be considered
a safe third country".
This agreement is the latest in a string of measures to stop refugees
from getting to Canada. For example, Canada already requires visas
from people coming from countries that are a source of refugees
(eg. Zimbabwe, Afghanistan). "We believe that this agreement,
together with policies of "interdiction", or stopping
refugees overseas before they get to Canada, are reminiscent of
the "none is too many" policies, which the Canadian government
adopted in the 1940's when it closed the doors to Jewish refugees
who were fleeing the holocaust", says the Canadian Council
for Refugees.
"None is too many" was the answer given by a high level
official when asked what the quota for Jews should be. It appears
that that sad chapter in Canadian history is being repeated in the
new millennium". "None is too many" is the name that
has been given to this agreement by members of the non-governmental
community.
"The agreement is being negotiated behind closed doors with
no public consultations. The full implications must be considered
before an agreement is signed," says KAIROS.
Join representatives from the Canadian Council for Refugees, Amnesty
International, The Refugee and Migration Program of KAIROS: Canadian
Ecumenical Justice Initiatives and the Ontario Council for Agencies
Serving Immigrants (OCASI) for the following:
Media Conference
Thursday June 20 11:00 a.m.
United Nations World Refugee Day
Sojourn House, 51 Bond St., Main Floor
(One block west of Church, north of Queen - first building north
of Metropolitan United Church, entrance on south side of building,
through church parking lot)
For more information please call Kemy Jacobs at 416-588-6288
ext. 202 Catherine Balfour at 416-363-9933 ext. 30.
 Top
of page
|
