Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration

Comité permanent de la citoyenneté et de l'immigration

For immediate release

Ottawa, July 15, 2016 -

From the threaten Sikh minority in Afghanistan, to the Yazidi people targeted for genocide by the Islamic State, to the humanitarian crisis of internally displaced peoples in Ukraine, there are many vulnerable populations in urgent need of protection around the world.

On Monday, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration begins a three-day intensive study of what Canada can do through immigration measures to assist these groups. After hearing from government officials, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Committee will hear from a variety of stakeholders including victims with first-hand experience of persecution.

Among others, the Committee will focus on the situation of Yazidis in Northern Iraq, Sikhs in Afghanistan, Rohingya in Myanmar, the internally displaced in Ukraine, and refugees persecuted on the basis of their sexual orientation. Stakeholders, including lawyers, human rights organizations and victims, will provide a broad perspective on Canadian legislation and policy. The full list of witnesses appearing can be found on the Committee website.

Committee Chair Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Etobicoke Centre, Ont.) hopes the report – to be released the third week of September – “will be an aid for our government to address the humanitarian crises facing internally displaced persons(IDPs)”.