Latest news with #UNRefugeeConvention
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'It was never meant to be permanent': Canada to stop funding hotel rooms for asylum seekers, spent $1.1 billion since 2020
Canada will stop funding hotels for the asylum seekers. Canada will stop funding hotels for asylum seekers after September as the federal government already spent approximately $1,1 billion on temporary hotel housing since 2020. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said it is funded to continue hotel operations only until September 30, 2025. The department said it will help those still in hotels find housing before September 30. CBC reported that Canada provided funding for asylum seekers since at least 2018 and it was only a stop-gap humanitarian measure as there was a sudden influx in the number of asylum seekers. It was never meant to be a permanent solution, they said. Over 15,000 asylum claimants who were previously in hotels have now transitioned to independent living, CBC News reported. The department said it will help the 485 people remaining in the hotels find longer-term housing before the program ends on Sept. 30. It said it will support people on-site while they look for longer-term housing, and that it will continue "supporting provinces and municipalities in developing their own long-term housing strategies. " Canada provides hotel accommodations for some asylum seekers as part of its humanitarian support system to ensure they have basic shelter and safety while their refugee claims are being processed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo Canada is a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. Under both international and domestic law, it must provide protection, shelter, and basic services to people who claim asylum and are awaiting a decision. Long wait for asylum seekers to ger job permit in Canada, Ontario says they will bypass federal government Ontario premier Doug Ford recently said asylum seekers have to wait for over two years to get work permit and it is not their fault that the government is paying their hotel stay as the immigration takes two years to process asylum claims. Ford said his administration can issue permits to the asylum seekers without waiting for the federal government's nod.
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on rules for immigration: a case of more haste meaning less speed
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has put the Government on notice that parts of its flagship immigration legislation breach fundamental rights and may well end up being challenged in the Irish and European Courts. The International Protection Bill 2025 will give effect to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact which seeks to align asylum practices across the EU by next June. The process by which applicants for international protection are assessed and adjudicated and, if necessary, removed from the State will be simplified with the objective of giving a decision – including appeal – within two to six months, depending on an applicant's circumstances. The procedure currently averages 18 months. The dysfunctional nature of the current system – and the opportunity provided to reset it by the EU Migration and Asylum Pact – is acknowledged by the IHREC. But it is equally clear that many of the proposed measures may not comply with the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights. READ MORE It has identified several issues of concern in the proposed legislation, in particular the right of applicants to free legal advice, which will now only be available at the appeal stage. It has also flagged a lack of clarity in relation to how the age of minors will be determined if this is disputed. It has also raised concerns about the rights of applicants with no identification who are covered by the UN Refugee Convention to which Ireland is a signatory, but which is not yet incorporated into national law. The common theme to these and the other issues raised by the IHREC is that the Government's rush to get the International Protection Bill enacted in time to meet the deadline for the introduction of the EU pact may be counterproductive if it leaves it open to numerous legal challenges, either from the commission or others. It notes that effective scrutiny of legislation by the Oireachtas – which appears difficult under the current timelines – could go a long way to heading off challenges . A case of the more haste the less speed.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Mistakes of the past': Kiren Rijiju invokes citizenship debate with 90s Chanakya clip; hits out over Bihar voter roll row
. NEW DELHI: Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday took a sharp dig at the Congress party by sharing a fiery scene from Doordarshan's iconic 90s TV show Chanakya. The video shows a heated debate in an ancient council of Chandragupta Maurya on whether refugees should be granted shelter. He captioned the clip: 'Seeing Congress party support illegal infiltrators reminded me of this scene. Mistakes committed more than 2000 years back. We can't allow illegal migrants in our voter list,' he wrote, referring to the ongoing electoral roll revision in Bihar and opposition criticism led by the Congress. Ironically, the Mauryan Empire — the backdrop of Chanakya's council debates — was rooted in ancient Bihar itself. In the video clip, a fierce council debate unfolds with one courtier saying, "Sharan dena ya na dena aapke maanvi drishtikon par nirbhar karta hai" (Whether or not to grant asylum depends on your humanitarian perspective), while others warn of dire consequences, arguing, "Kal yehi sharnarthi Takshashila ki bhoomi par adhikaar ka daava karenge" (Tomorrow, these refugees will claim rights over our land). The BJP has often leaned on historical and cultural imagery to frame its politics, invoking ancient texts and reclaiming historical figures to bolster its ideological messaging. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The party has taken a hard line on migration, linking it to national security. In states like West Bengal, the party accuses the Mamta Banerjee government of enabling illegal entry. Earlier this year, Union home minister Amit Shah alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led government was 'showing mercy to infiltrators' and deliberately stalling border fencing efforts — a move he claimed was putting the country's security at risk. The current BJP government, however, passed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019 to fast-track naturalisation for refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. The move triggered widespread protests, with critics calling it discriminatory for excluding Muslims. India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, and has no national refugee law, leaving most such decisions to government's discretion. Meanwhile, India is also facing the brunt of anti-migrant policies abroad. With US president Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration, the country now risks losing billions of dollars in remittances.
The Star
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Time for a formal codified framework
ONE of the oft-talked about issues when it comes to refugees is their right to work in their host countries, including in Malaysia. But things in Malaysia seemed to bode well for refugees when Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said in a written parliamentary reply early this year that refugees will be allowed to work under an improved National Security Council Directive No.23. However, the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has called the directive too little, too late, pointing out that it merely offers short-term relief. Suhakam also points out that the directive has 'inexplicably' remained a confidential document, and called for its urgent implementation, as it was approved by the Prime Minister in June 2023. 'Short-term policies, while providing immediate relief – albeit limited in nature – must be followed by a comprehensive legal framework to ensure sustainable and rights-based solutions for refugees,' Suhakam has stated. Now that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Malaysia has shown its support and willingness to work with the government to establish a domestic legal framework for refugees, Suhakam and civil society are once again calling for a formal codification of laws that address the refugees' situation in the country. 'Suhakam has consistently observed with concern that Malaysia stands without a formal domestic legal framework for refugees, primarily because it is not a state party to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. 'This raises a troubling question: Do we really need to be bound by international law before we can offer compassion and regulation to those in need within our borders? Is this a justifiable stance?' the commission says to Sunday Star. As a nation, Malaysia has a duty to promote, protect and fulfil the rights of every individual while preventing any violations of those rights. As such, Suhakam says that without a structured legal framework, Malaysia leaves countless vulnerable lives in limbo. 'This is not just a legal failing, it is a human tragedy. 'In the face of such pressing needs, the development of a national framework isn't merely desirable, it is essential. 'It would provide the much- needed legal clarity, policy consistency and institutional responsibility required to address refugee-related issues with dignity and care.' This way, even without ratifying the UN Refugee Convention, Malaysia can enact rights-based legislation that aligns with its existing commitments under other international human rights treaties, the commission adds. Among key elements that Suhakam recommends for the framework are a clear legal definition and recognition of 'refugee' and 'asylum seeker' status, a differentiation between refugees and Pati (pendatang asing tanpa izin, or undocumented immigrant), a government-led procedure for status determination in coordination with UNHCR expertise, the right to legal identity documents for recognised refugees and asylum seekers, and the right to legal stay and protection from refoulement. Refoulement refers to the forcible return of refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they are liable to be subjected to persecution. Suhakam recommends that the framework include not only legal work rights, but also access to basic services such as healthcare, education and justice, as well as safeguards against arbitrary arrest, detention and deportation. These have long been the main concerns brought up in refugee- related discourse. North South Initiative (NSI) executive director Adrian Pereira says these are some of the fundamental basic rights listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He adds that there are existing frameworks in Malaysia, but they are not formally codified or articulated in a way that ensures consistent, dignified service. For example, education for refugees is dependent on the private sector, while healthcare is unsubsidised. Meanwhile, legal employment exists for refugees in Malaysia, but they do not get the full protections of the different employment- related laws, he says. So there is definitely a need for a formal codified framework, he says, 'because it's so under the bare minimum standard currently'. Pereira also warns against adopting the practices of other countries that have also not signed the UN Refugee Conven-tion: 'I think that the idea is not to compare whether there is an existing model from non-signatory countries. We should always aim and aspire for the highest standards, not go for the least standard.' He points out that Malaysia has a good track record of hosting the Vietnamese boat people in the 1970s. 'So we don't need to look at other examples. Just retrospectively look back at what we have done.' Suhakam's proposals for a formal legislative framework for refugees > Strategy 1: Identification and registration of refugees: Review the National Security Policy 2021-2025. Amend Section 55 of the Immigration Act. Include definitions for refugees and asylum seekers in the Immigration Regulations 1963. Introduce a Refugee Pass in the Immigration Regulations 1963. Amend the Immigration Regulations 1963 (Admin-istration and Management of Immigration Depots 2003) to ensure refugee status is recognised at immigration depots. Create special regulations under the Passport Act 1966 for refugees lacking travel documents. > Strategy 2: Provide opportunities for refugees to work formally: Amend the Immigration Regulations 1963 to allow registered refugees to work. > Strategy 3: Provide inclusive educational opportunities: Amend the Zero Refusal Policy and relevant sections of the Federal Constitution and Education Act to ensure that the right to education includes refugee children. Facilitate community-based school registration for refugees under the Private Education Division and State Education Department. Ensure that the syllabus provided meets the current educational level of refugees while being recognised internationally. > Strategy 4: Health welfare for refugees: Revise the Guidelines for Fees (Medical) (Service Costs) Order 2014 to replace 'Pati registered with UNHCR' with 'Refugees and Asylum Seekers', and exempt hospitals from reporting to the Immigration Department. (Pati is an acronym of 'pendatang asing tanpa izin', or undocumented immigrant.) > Strategy 5: Promote a safe and harmonious family structure: Increase awareness of provisions allowing refugees to register marriages, divorces, births and deaths. Advocate for a secure family system that includes marriage registration and the issuance of birth certificates, with strict enforcement for non-compliance. > Strategy 6: Break the cycle of poverty and economic instability: Collaborate with refugee-receiving countries to establish clear criteria for refugee acceptance Promote refugee talent for potential placement in third countries. Source: Suhakam
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Dutch government collapses after Geert Wilders pulls his anti-Islam party out of coalition
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof has stepped down following the decision by far-right leader Geert Wilders to pull his anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV) out of the ruling coalition. The move has effectively collapsed the Netherlands' 11-month-old government and is expected to lead to snap elections. The ruling coalition – made up of Wilders' PVV, the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), and the liberal-conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) – has been fragile since it was formed after the last elections. The four-party alliance struggled to find common ground, especially on the contentious issue of asylum and immigration policy. On Tuesday morning, following a brief meeting of party leaders, Wilders announced that all PVV ministers would leave the government. 'I signed up for the toughest asylum policy, not the downfall of the Netherlands,' he told reporters, as per The Guardian. He also wrote on social media that 'since there had been no signoff on our asylum plans,' the PVV was 'leaving the coalition.' Wilders had been pushing for the government to adopt a strict 10-point plan aimed at significantly reducing immigration. As per a report by The Guardian, experts had warned that many of these proposals were in direct conflict with European human rights law and the UN Refugee Convention. In response, Prime Minister Schoof called an emergency cabinet meeting. With the PVV's departure, the three remaining parties could theoretically continue as a minority government, but analysts and opposition figures believe new elections are the only realistic outcome. Frans Timmermans, leader of the opposition Labour/Green alliance and a former European Commission vice-president, said: 'I see no other way to form a stable government.' Recent polling as per The Guardian, indicates that support for Geert Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) has dropped significantly since its surprise election victory in November 2023. The party is now polling at around 20 per cent, roughly on par with the Labour/Green alliance, currently the second-largest bloc in the Dutch parliament. This isn't the first time Wilders, has walked away from political power. After years on the opposition benches, he only managed to strike a coalition deal in 2023 by giving up his bid to become prime minister. Back in 2010, Wilders also played a pivotal role in Dutch politics when he backed a minority government led by then-prime minister Mark Rutte. However, that support collapsed less than two years later following a row over austerity policies, leading him to withdraw from the arrangement. The now-defunct coalition, which took nearly six months to negotiate, marked the first time the far-right PVV had entered government.
