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This April 4th reach out to your community about refugee rights. In this section, you will find all you need to speak out about refugee rights this Refugee Rights Day. This includes suggestions and materials to help people who care about refugees’ human rights alert the Canadian public, members of the media and politicians to advances made in the protection of refugee rights as a result of the Singh decision, as well as to threats to those rights.
April 4, 1985 was a milestone for refugee rights in Canada. On that day, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the right of refugee claimants in Canada to life, liberty and security of the person, and that claimants are therefore entitled to an oral hearing, in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice and international law. This ruling has become known as the ‘Singh decision’ in recognition of Harnhajan Singh, Sadhu Singh Thandi, Paramjit Singh Mann, Kewal Singh, Charanjit Singh Gill, Indrani and Satnam Singh who brought their cases to the Court.
Refugees and immigrants to Canada continue to face challenges in their search for protection. The anniversary of the Singh decision on 4 April 2006 is an ideal opportunity to alert the Canadian public, media and politicians to the advances made in the protection of refugee rights as a result of the Singh decision, as well as to threats to those rights.
Advances made – what we can be proud of:
Canada’s refugee determination system is admired internationally because:
- Decisions are made by an independent, specialized tribunal (the Immigration and Refugee Board), based on excellent documentation and research
- Canada has been a world leader with our gender guidelines
- Refugee claimants have access to basic entitlements to allow them to live in dignity (such as work permits and emergency health care coverage)
- Accepted refugees can apply for permanent residence
More work to do:
There is a growing hostility towards refugee claimants and a disregard for the basic rights of refugees:
- Interdiction – Canada works to stop refugee claimants from getting to Canada (The Safe Third Country agreement is the latest example of this, largely closing the US-Canada border)
- No appeal on merits of a negative refugee decision (the government has failed to implement the appeal that is in the law)
- Refugee claimants are detained unnecessarily
- Sponsored refugees wait for years overseas, often in peril
- Refugees in Canada wait years for their families to be allowed to join them
- Refugees and refugee claimants are misrepresented in the media and by government
FOR EASY DISTRIBUTION/ À DISTRIBUER FACILEMENT
WEBSITE LINKS/ LIENS AUX SITES WEB
DOCUMENTS FOR FURTHER READING/ DOCUMENTS DE LECTURE SUPPLÉMENTAIRE
PowerPoint presentation on Canada’s history of refugee protection
For giving presentations to editorial board, to politicians, to groups, for teachers to use, etc.
Many refugee rights activists carry out activities within their own constituencies (for example, faith groups), and we hope that the materials provided in this Toolkit will help you continue them. Feel free to adapt for your own audience.
Others will be looking for activities and we strongly encourage you to choose among the following suggestions. Be realistic: it is better to focus on one or two things you can do well, than to spend a lot of time discussing ambitious plans that may be more than your group can accomplish. (Ultimately do what you like, and have fun, but try to do something!)
| AUDIENCE |
ACTIVITIES |
Media |
- ·Get coverage in newspapers, TV, radio and/or websites. Aim to better inform the public, since the coverage of refugee issues in the media is often inaccurate, unclear and scanty.
See section below GETTING MEDIA COVERAGE
- Educate the media by asking for a meeting with an editorial board, or hosting a media briefing session. Your aim is better inform those who work in the media, and to challenge them to provide better and more accurate coverage of refugee protection.
See section below EDUCATING EDITORIAL BOARDS AND JOURNALISTS
|
Politicians |
- Visit your MP with materials on Refugee Rights Day or about specific campaigns (such as the Refugee Appeal Division). If you cannot visit, write them a letter.
See section below ORGANIZING MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT OR SENATORS
- Work toward getting Refugee Rights Day proclaimed in your local government (municipal or provincial)
See section below GETTING REFUGEE RIGHTS DAY PROCLAIMED
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Teachers |
- Promote Refugee Rights Day to teachers and school boards in your area – get them interested in inviting a speaker (and best if you can find a refugee who is willing to speak) and teaching about refugees.
See section below RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
- Ask to attend teachers’ meetings and forums to talk about refugee rights. Invite a refugee speaker to accompany you.
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Students |
- Organize an event for Refugee Rights Day in a class or school – offer to speak or to find a speaker, put on a display, show a video, give out information.
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Others |
- Get invited to other people’s events and meetings to talk about Refugee Rights Day.
- Get Refugee Rights Day recognized in your workplace, union, school, church, mosque, etc.
- Send Refugee Rights Day materials in any mailing you will be sending out (electronic or post).
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GETTING MEDIA COVERAGE
Send a Media advisory as soon as possible to journalists you think might cover the theme. (Use the CCR media advisory below to tailor for your use. Try to jazz it up a bit by giving a local flavour and say what your group plans to do, who you are etc.)
For the names and contact information of local media people, ask organizations that work with refugees and immigrants in your area to give you any they can.
Call the journalists to find out who might be interested in doing something. If so, make up a media kit to send them, which could contain:
Ø Media Advisory / Avis aux médias
Ø Booklet on Refugee Rights Day 
/ Brochure à propos de la Journée des droits des réfugié
Ø Quotes by people whose voices you think it is important to be heard
Ø Description of your group (organizations, individuals etc.)
Ø Charts, visuals, photographs
Ø Any speakers you have arranged
Explore ideas with them how you could get coverage. Some strategies include:
- encouraging sympathetic columnists to write about the Singh decision
- getting TV or radio to host a panel discussion on the state of refugee rights
- connecting media with refugees willing to talk about their perspectives on the question.
For more ideas on getting media coverage, go to the IMPACS web site at: www.impacs.org
EDUCATING EDITORIAL BOARDS AND JOURNALISTS
Ø How to meet with editorial board
Ø How to host a media briefing
ORGANIZING MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT OR SENATORS
Ø How to organize meetings with politicians
Ø Letter to MP or Senator asking for a meeting
GETTING REFUGEE RIGHTS DAY PROCLAIMED
Ø Sample letter to mayor
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
Ø Teacher’s resources
Ø PowerPoint presentation on Canada’s history of refugee protection
For further CCR public education materials, look on our Public Education page.
If you use materials in this virtual Toolkit, please send your feedback to Colleen French, CCR Communication and Networking Coordinator at ccr4@web.ca Also, if you have materials or ideas to share, or you carry out Refugee Rights Day activities, please tell us so we can add it here. Thank you!
