New refugee program for human rights defenders a good idea hiding significant pitfalls

The HRD program is confronted with a stark reality, the same one facing all refugee resettlement programs: the gap between the overwhelming need for protection and the capacity of the world’s nations to provide it.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino and the government should be congratulated for implementing the new human rights defenders program, writes Peter Showler. It is a start. With success, and if well managed, it might even double or even triple its capacity.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY PETER SHOWLER

July 28, 2021

It began with a short directive contained in the prime minister’s mandate letter to the minister of immigration, refugees, and citizenship on Dec. 13, 2019. “Introduce a dedicated refugee stream to provide safe haven for human rights advocates, journalists and humanitarian workers at risk, with...

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