The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) has launced a "Virtual Toolkit" for Refugee Rights Day.

STAND UP FOR REFUGEE RIGHTS ON APRIL 4th!

This April 4th reach out to your community about refugee rights. In this section, you will find all you need to speak out about refugee rights this Refugee Rights Day. This includes suggestions and materials to help people who care about refugees’ human rights alert the Canadian public, members of the media and politicians to advances made in the protection of refugee rights as a result of the Singh decision, as well as to threats to those rights.

What is Refugee Rights Day in Canada?

April 4, 1985 was a milestone for refugee rights in Canada. On that day, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the right of refugee claimants in Canada to life, liberty and security of the person, and that claimants are therefore entitled to an oral hearing, in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice and international law. This ruling has become known as the ‘Singh decision’ in recognition of Harnhajan Singh, Sadhu Singh Thandi, Paramjit Singh Mann, Kewal Singh, Charanjit Singh Gill, Indrani and Satnam Singh who brought their cases to the Court.

Why is this Refugee Rights Day important?

Refugees and immigrants to Canada continue to face challenges in their search for protection. The anniversary of the Singh decision on 4 April 2006 is an ideal opportunity to alert the Canadian public, media and politicians to the advances made in the protection of refugee rights as a result of the Singh decision, as well as to threats to those rights.The toolkit includes suggestions and materials to help people who care about refugees’ human rights alert the Canadian public, members of the media, and politicians to advances made in the protection of refugee rights.

Downloadable resources include:

• 'Refugee Rights Day 2007' (booklet)
• Facing facts: myths and misconceptions about refugees and immigrants in Canada
• 'Confronting Myths about Refugee Rights'
• Factsheets on family reunification
• CCR Manifesto on Family Reunification
• Annual Status Report 2006
• 10 Reasons Why Safe Third Country is a Bad Deal (Pamphlet, print on legal paper)
• 'Lives on Hold: Nationals of moratoria countries living in limbo' (pamphlet)