News headlines come and go.
From the safety and comfort of our homes, we can carry on until, one day, we can’t. In 2021, many residents of BC experienced sudden disruption in their lives due to fires, floods, and heat domes – or they knew someone who was affected.
At the global level, the daily news of Ukraine overshadows emergencies in other parts of the world, and some residents have been personally affected by this: the fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) plays a significant role in these global emergencies.
WHAT DOES THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY DO?
When the UNHCR was originally launched in 1950, it was funded primarily with voluntary contributions from national governments and the European Union. It now consists of more than 17,000 dedicated staff in over 130 countries. They work to save and protect the lives of millions of refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people.
Global trends for 2020 and information about the complex range of activities they do around the world are outlined on their website. Recent examples include the distribution of thermal blankets at the Shehyni border crossing point, where displaced people from Ukraine waited to cross into Poland.
REFUGEES
The 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 protocol to it defines the term ‘refugee’ and the rights that member states are expected to respect and protect. Half of the refugees in the world are under 18, yet they are forced to leave their homes and cross into another country, without adequate clothing, food, or shelter. Some flee in search of safety. Others are displaced or driven to hide within their country without access to essential services, under conflict and deteriorating conditions. Without access to basic needs or emergency health care, their situation can become fatal.
RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES
Some refugees can remain trapped in limbo for years. Canada has a resettlement target, with distinct programs to meet that target: the UNHCR referral-based Government Assisted Refugees program (GAR); the civil society-based Private Sponsorship of Refugees program (PSR); and the hybrid Blended Visa Office-Referred program (BVOR), which focus on UNHCR-identified refugees, and split the integration costs between private sponsors and governments.
Additionally, there are refugee claimants who come to Canada and seek asylum, and their cases are determined by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. If accepted as refugees, they can then apply for permanent residency for themselves and their dependents. UNHCR reported that between 2015 to the end of 2021, there were 15,165 refugees who resettled in BC, primarily in Vancouver, but also in Richmond, Victoria, and Kelowna.
Federal and provincial ministries, as well as many social organizations provided funds and services to refugees in Canada. UNHCR is not involved at this stage.
MODEL UNITED NATIONS
The Model United Nations (MUN) invites selected high-school youth to attend conferences and brainstorm solutions for authentic challenges. More than 40,000 students in 80 countries took part in the 2021 editions of the MUN Refugee Challenge.
At the Vancouver Model United Nations from April 21 to 23, 2022, the focus was on one or more of the following: Finding Durable Solutions for Refugees, Climate Change and Displacement, Ending Statelessness, and Protecting LGBTQIA+ Rights, and Refugees.
The resolutions that emerge from these debates will be put before a jury composed of UNHCR members, young refugee leaders, and independent experts. The best ideas will be shared with policymakers and be promoted on UNHCR’s social media channels, which are followed by millions.
WORLD REFUGEE DAY IS JUNE 20th
Ever since the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees came into existence, the UNHCR has encouraged the world to “celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.” In 2022, World Refugee Day will highlight protection, and the critical human right of access to safety and asylum.
For more information on how you can support UNHCR visit: unhcr.ca/gifts-in-wills
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