Overview of the Current Crisis in Syria & the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program UNHCR Presentation by the Diocesan Refugee Unit 8 October 2015
Agenda PART 1 What is Happening in Syria? PART 2 What is a Refugee? PART 3 SAHs and the Sponsorship Process PART 4 Settlement Responsibilities PART 5 Diocesan Networking and Q&A
The Syrian Crisis
The Assad Regime Bashar al-assad assumed power from his father, following Hafez s death in 2000. Hafez had ruled Syria since 1970. Baath ideology is based on a one party system and there has been no peaceful change of power since the 1950s Under Bashar al-assad, families related to the Assad regime have been able to take advantage of privatization of the economy, favoring the upper-middle class 2008 drought devastated farming communities, forcing farmers to flee to growing urban slums
Syria s Population Pyramid
Canada s Population Pyramid
2011 The Arab Spring ¼ million new arrivals onto the job market every year Systemic Corruption: licenses for shops or a car New Media vs state control Fall of Tunisian and Egyptian Regimes led to the belief that change was possible Brutal State response to peaceful protests
What is a Refugee? Outside of their own country Well-founded fear of persecution for: Race Religion Nationality Political Opinions Membership in particular social group
Durable Solutions for Refugees The UNHCR considers there to be 3 durable solutions for refugees: Voluntary Repatriation returning home conditions must allow return in safety and dignity Local Integration integrating into the country of asylum Photo: UNHCR Resettlement permanent move to a third country limited option for those who cannot go home, are not safe in their asylum country
Part 3 SAHs & Sponsorship Process
The Story of Sponsorship in Canada In 1979 Canadians enthusiastically applied to sponsor Boat People under the new Private Sponsorship Program In 1986 the United Nations awarded the Nansen medal to the Canadian people in recognition of their major and sustained contribution to the cause of refugees Photo: UNHCR
The Story of Sponsorship in Canada Over 200,000 refugees have been privately sponsored to Canada in the last 30 years Canada s private sponsorship program is unique; it represents 6% of worldwide resettlement and is larger than the resettlement programs of many countries!
Impact of Sponsorship Refugees have less than a 0.5% chance of being resettled Canada accepts approximately 12,000 refugees from abroad each year Of these, nearly 1/2 are privately sponsored and would not otherwise have an opportunity for resettlement Photo: UNHCR
Impact of Sponsorship Photo: UNHCR Refugees can only be referred to Canada by UNHCR or by a private sponsor they cannot apply directly for resettlement to Canada from abroad Private sponsorship increases Canada s and the world s capacity to offer humanitarian assistance to refugees
Canadian Refugee Resettlement Canadian Resettlement Program: Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSR) Blended Visa Office Referred (BVOR) Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) Government Assisted Refugees (GAR) Funded by: Private sponsors 6 months income support from government 6 months income support from sponsors Government Government Settlement Support by: Private sponsors Private sponsors Initial settlement support by Governmentfunded organizations, then by Private Sponsors Governmentfunded organizations Referred to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) by: Are the refugees known to the sponsor? Private sponsors UNHCR UNHCR UNHCR Yes No No No
What is the Private Sponsorship of Refugees? The resettlement of a refugee to Canada, in which financial costs and settlement support are provided by private groups or organizations. Sponsoring groups must provide financial support for 12 months or until the refugee becomes self-sufficient (whichever comes first). Exception:To sponsor refugees through the BVOR program, sponsoring groups must provide financial support for 6 months. Eskinder Debebe Sponsoring groups must provide settlement support for 12 months
Who can sponsor refugees? Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) & Constituent Group (CG) Co-sponsor An incorporated organization that has signed an Agreement to sponsor refugees with the Government of Canada A group that has been authorized by a SAH to sponsor refugees under its Agreement A person or group that has been authorized by a SAH to sponsor refugees under its Agreement Group of Five Five Canadian citizens or permanent residents Community Sponsor Any organization, association or corporation
What are the differences between these groups? Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) (and their Constituent Groups & Co-sponsors) Groups of Five & Community Sponsors Already have an agreement to sponsor Assessed as sponsors with each application Can sponsor Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) & Joint Assistance Sponsorship cases Cannot sponsor BVOR & JAS refugees Limitations on number of refugees that can be sponsored (except for Syrians and Iraqis) Number of refugees that can be sponsored depends on group s capacity Refugee applicants do not need to already have refugee status & proof of this status Refugee applicants must already have refugee status & have proof of this status
Sponsoring a specific refugee
How do you sponsor a refugee you already know? Does the Principal Applicant have: refugee status Proof of this refugee status (a refugee status recognition document) that was issued to them by either the UNHCR or a government? Yes No You can sponsor through a: GROUP OF FIVE, COMMUNITY SPONSOR or SAH Try to find a SAH. Ask them if you can sponsor the refugees under their Agreement with CIC
How does someone get refugee status? Usually, through an interview in the country that they are living in now. The interview assesses whether they meet the refugee definition. In each country, this process of determining who can obtain refugee status is conducted by either: a)the government of the country b)the UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) c)nobody Sometimes, refugee status is determined on a prima facie basis (a group declaration) Since 2012, to be sponsored by a Group of Five or Community Sponsor, the Principal Applicant MUST have a REFUGEE STATUS RECOGNITION DOCUMENT. Group of Five or Community Sponsor applications without a copy of this document are not accepted by CIC.
What is a refugee status recognition document? - A document that indicates that a person has been determined to be a refugee by the UNHCR or by a foreign government. - Proof of refugee status - Refugee status recognition documents should not be confused with UNHCR registration documents Without proof of refugee status, asylum seekers can only be sponsored by SAHs.
Who is eligible to be sponsored? Someone who: Has a sponsoring group in Canada Is outside of their home country Is not in Canada Is unable or unwilling to return to their country Cannot locally integrate where they are currently living (cannot stay there, do not have rights similar to the rights of citizens, etc.) Fits the definition of: Convention Refugee Abroad Class: OR Country of Asylum Class: Well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion Seriously and personally affected by civil war or armed conflict, or suffered massive violations of human rights
Who is admissible? Before being accepted to come to Canada, the following checks will be conducted: Medical check Security check Criminality check
Sponsoring a refugee that you have not yet identified Try to find a SAH. Ask them if you can work with them to either: Connect you with: A) the family member of a refugee here in Canada who needs sponsorship assistance B) a refugee that has contacted them. Sponsor a BVOR or JAS case Very high interest for Syrian refugees from SAHs, and low number of cases currently available!