Article 1F of the 1951 Refugee Convention excludes individuals who have committed serious crimes from being eligible for refugee status under the Convention. It states: Article 1F of the 1951 Refugee Convention states: F. The provisions of this Convention shall not apply to any person with respect to whom there are serious reasons for considering that:… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: Refugee
Canada Lists Designated Countries of Origin
The Government of Canada has published a list of the first Designated Countries of Origin (“DCO“). The initial list of DCOs covers 27 countries, 25 of which are in the European Union (edit: see below for a list of additional countries added on February 14, 2013): Austria Belgium Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France… Continue Reading
Should People Who Lose Their Refugee Status Be Deported?
Much of the media attention towards Bill C-31 – the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act – has been focused on its shortening of the time periods for processing refugee claims and its removal of some appeal rights for refugee claimants that were supposed to be introduced under the Balanced Refugee Reform Act. This past week,… Continue Reading
Certified Question on Section 7 Charter Rights
Does the Immigration and Refugee Board (“IRB”) violate the provisions of section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter”) if it declines to postpone a hearing based on risk to life where there is a pending humanitarian and compassionate application also based on risk to life? The above question was certified… Continue Reading
The Bill C-11 Regulations
The Bill C-11 Regulations have been released… Continue Reading
Judicial Review of Refugee Decisions
There are few things more devastating for a refugee claimant than when the Refugee Protection Division rejects your claim. At that point, you essentially have two main options: make a pre-removal risk assessment application or seek judicial review. The objective of a judicial review is to convince a judge that the Refugee Protection Division’s rejection… Continue Reading
Jason Kenney’s Statements on the Roma – Inappropriate? [Updated]
On July 14, 2009, Canada imposed a visa requirement on the Czech Republic. At the time, Jason Kenney, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, took to the air waves defending the decision, repeatedly stating that a high percentage of the Czech refugee claims were bogus.… Continue Reading
Battered Woman Syndrome and Female Refugee Claimants
In an immigration case which focuses on gender, the reasons of the Refugee Protection Division must reflect the specific situation of an applicant, with particular attention to Guideline 4.… Continue Reading