Refugee Rights Day 2019

McLaughlin College, the Centre for Refugee Studies and co-sponsors the Department of Sociology and Centre for Public Policy (Osgoode Hall Law School), York University present:
Refugee Rights Day 2019
Panel Discussion:

Syria Response and Refugee Initiative Reception
and “The Road Less Travelled” Exhibit Launch

McLaughlin College Junior Common Room (014)
https://maps.info.yorku.ca/keele-campus/
**Light lunch and refreshments will be served**
Please RSVP to https://goo.gl/forms/4i9fiI1IgdIGxFWf1
This event and day of reflection marks Refugee Rights Day in Canada (April 4th) and a reception to recognize the efforts of York-based refugee sponsors and mark the formal conclusion of York’s Syria Response and Refugee Initiative (SRRI), a Syrian refugee resettlement and education project (2015-2019) hosted at its Centre for Refugee Studies.
Speakers will discuss the origins and contemporary relevance of Refugee Rights Day, refugee policy in Canada and reflect upon their York-based engagement in refugee issues.
This event will also mark the formal launch of a mixed mediaexhibition “The Road Less Travelled,” by Professor Nergis Canefe of York University’s Centre for Refugee Studies and Department of Politics, which will be displayed in theMcLaughlin College Art Gallery (001 McLaughlin College) throughout the month of April.
Discussion Chair:
Michaela Hynie
Professor, Faculty of Health &
Centre for Refugee Studies, York University
Welcome and Opening Remarks:
Professor James C. Simeon
Head of McLaughlin College,
School of Public Policy and Administration,
LA&PS, York University

Panelists:
Geraldine Sadoway
Human Rights and Refugee Lawyer (LLM), Author and Instructor
John Carlaw
Project Lead, York University Syria Response and Refugee Initiative
Graduate Fellow, Centre for Refugee Studies
Humaima Ashfaque
Student Ambassador, Syria Response and Refugee Initiative
Student Refugee Program Coordinator- WUSC Keele Campus Committee
Edwar Dommar
Amnesty International at York, WUSC Keele &
Ryerson University Lifeline Syria Challenge Volunteer
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Refugee Rights Day highlights the 1985 Supreme Court Singh decision, which found that anyone on Canadian soil is covered by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Bill of Rights. This paved the way for all refugee claimants in Canada to have the right to an oral hearing of their case and the establishment of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
In addition to refugee claims, refugees also obtain protection in Canada through resettlement. Amidst a changing policy environment, since Fall, 2015 ten York-based refugee sponsorship teams have been part of the pan-GTA Ryerson University Lifeline Syria Challenge and York’s Syria Response and Refugee Initiative. These efforts have been combined with ambitious educational programming and community engagement, including work with more than 18 different student groups as well as campus and community partners. For its part, York’s Keele Campus World University Service of Canada Committee was recently recognized by WUSC as its 2018 National Committee of the Year. York’s Glendon and Keele Campus WUSC committees collectively sponsor five new refugee students each year to study and live in our university community.
Please join us to reflect upon refugee rights in Canada and mark some of York’s recent contributions!