UN official says refugee bill inconsistent with international law
Published May 9, 2012
Furio De Angelis takes aim at detention provisions: "Surely UNHCR would not support a rush to the lowest common denominator."
By Kristen Shane
The UN refugee agency's representative in Canada is urging the Harper government to make changes to its refugee bill, C-31, saying parts of it are inconsistent with international law.
In testimony May 7 to the House immigration committee, on the last day of a marathon hearing schedule, Furio De Angelis outlined several concerns about parts of the bill he said provide for "differential categorization" of asylum seekers, and have the effect of restricting some claimants' access to the asylum process.
They include clauses dealing with mandatory detention for up to a year without review for some claimants, and a five-year ban on family sponsorship for some refugees.
Mr. De Angelis, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees representative in Canada, supported some parts of the bill, such as the creation of an appeal mechanism—but with caveats.
The UNHCR is the guardian of the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a base international refugee law document, and gives technical advice to governments on refugee policy.
