Refugee Rights Day, April 4

was the day in 1985 on which the Supreme Court of Canada, in its decision on the case Singh et.al, said these refugee claimants were entitled to the protection of Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which guarantees “everyone … the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” Everyone includes every person physically present in Canada. “Security of person” encompasses freedom from the threat of physical punishment as well as freedom from such punishment itself.

Links:

Working Group on Refugee Resettlement, Toronto Conference's refugee ministry and resettlement service, www.wgrresettlement.org

United Church of Canada, www.united-church.ca   search: refugee, sanctuary, resettlement, sponsorship

Canadian Council for Refugees, www.web/net/~ccr

Amnesty International, www.amnesty.org

United Nations High Commission for Refugees, www.unhcr.ch

Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture, www.icomm.ca/ccvt

Ontario Council for Agencies Serving Immigrants, www.ocasi.org

Culturelink, www.culturelink.net