"Safe Third Country" Agreement puts Refugees at Risk

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 of 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. 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). Main Floor. For more information please call:

Kemi Jacobs at 416-588-6288 ext. 202

Catherine Balfour at 416-363-9933 ext. 30