Dispelling Myths with Facts: Birds-Eye View of Refugee Protection from the UNHCR office in Toronto
By Ramsha Rehan
“If the world could be one, would we make the right choices? Would we know what the right choices are?” Writes eleven-year-old Samantha Riddell, one of the winners of the poetry competition initiated by Rana Khan of UNHCR along with COSTI Immigration Services several years ago. This excerpt from the poem captures the elements of choice, agency, decision-making and obligation that undergird the refugee protection process and shape the actions of the actors involved. On the corner of a busy downtown intersection in Toronto, lies Rana Khan's office. Khan, a/University of Toronto alumna and philosophy major, is a human rights lawyer who works with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Her work primarily focuses on advocating and engaging with government bodies and civil society actors to promote and establish the best case for asylum seekers looking for Canada’s protection.
Q&A
How did you get to be in this line of work, and do you think your identity as a woman and person of color has influenced your role in your field?
“I think the question is more so what makes each of us interested in our career paths? What motivates us to do what we do? And the question of how our identity is interlinked with the choices we make is indeed a fundamental one. The decision and the choices we make, I believe is a combination of our personal characteristics, interests, motivations. And maybe gender and race play into that decision—but I think it goes beyond that. Growing up I understood the differences in how people live, their access to rights, and the fact that certain voices are limited, and for me, it was the desire for change and to fill the gaps in equity that peaked my interest. We are all compelled by something, and if you are compelled to work in human rights, you just do it.”
How do international organizations fill the gaps in international conventions and human rights law?
Khan outlines that international organizations like the UNHCR work with states and civil society actors to address gaps in protection and to find solutions to some of the world’s most difficult and long-term displacement issues. She says: “the UNHCR in the aftermath of World War Two and the 1951 Convention outlines a proposed set of rights and obligations—the UNHCR works with States to ensure their application. Having the United Nations and various UN agencies focus in on these issues and partner with states and NGOs to address these issues has been crucial. Yes, there are still gaps and much more room for protection solutions, but it’s an ongoing process.”
The 1951 Refugee Convention is a key legal document outlining the obligations of international actors to refugees and the kinds of rights and legal protections they have. At the same time, there has been much criticism surrounding the 1951 Convention, particularly regarding the ambiguity of the definition of refugee and the precarious state of asylum seekers, which may allow states to find loopholes within the fine print of human rights law. Khan confronts this problem by highlighting, “The Convention was created for refugees specifically; there are other conventions for different situations of displacement, but the intent of this document was to protect asylum seekers refugees. The definition in my view is sufficient if interpreted and applied properly to provide the necessary protection.”
As Khan indicates, though there are some gaps in the asylum process, “Canada has maintained its obligations to refugees, by being a leader in taking on new initiatives, starting with the women-at-risk programs in the 1980s, the IRB gender guidelines on protection, the resettlement program, and the right to oral hearings, among other things.”
How can we understand the rhetoric around refugees, and how can we overcome the stigma?
The precarious status of refugees within the nation and before they are granted entry is amplified by the toxic rhetoric surrounding their movement and settlement. There seems to exist the idea that refugees are viewed with skepticism and suspicion, as common myths include the beliefs that they will ‘steal’ Canadian jobs, are sick and unhealthy, and a constant burden on social and economic resources.
Khan maintains that these negative narratives need to be balanced with facts about who refugees really are, and what they are actually doing in Canada. She replies, “there are no factual connections to these fears, they are quite unfounded. Statistics will show you that it takes [refugees] fewer years to come up to the same level as Canadians. This is because they have work permits and are already contributing to society from very early on in the asylum process. One cannot generalize about refugees. These aren’t people without skills, education or experience. They come from all backgrounds and experiences. These are people who are simply fleeing persecution.” Research collected by the UNHCR and Statistics Canada shows that refugees successfully integrate and find ways to give back to Canadian society in a short period of time. In terms of employment rates, income, education, and skill levels, refugees are able to match or outperform Canadian citizens after a few years. There have also been notable cases of refugees doing purposeful work: for example, more recently, the chocolate business— Peace by Chocolates—run by the Hadhad family, who advocate for refugee integration. With this, Khan questions the prevalence of negative rhetoric: “Where does this fear come from? What is the driver making us resistant? The lack of information or misinformation plays a big part in misconceptions. It’s the failure to paint the right picture that makes the fear of the Other more pronounced.”
Trapped between the dichotomy of powerless victim and national security threat, what becomes of refugee agency?
Khan expresses the belief that to dispel the toxic narrative there needs to be a shift in our understanding of refugees. She says: “We need to reflect on the terminology: the term ‘refugee’ is a state in time; the person is in limbo—it’s a legal state, not who you are.” The notion of refugees as victims is not the only way to see things, instead the narrative needs to be upturned. Despite the persecution they face, refugees have so much agency that they are able to leave their homes and lives behind and start again from scratch. This is a testament to their extraordinary agency in the face of many structural constraints. Khan says, “to express their full agency, there has to be support and efforts towards integration in host countries.” To enter into a new system and thrive, states must uphold their obligations to refugees.
What has been the most fulfilling thing about your career?
As the interview comes to a close, I try to squeeze in this final question. “The possibility to have made some systemic changes in policy and practice,” she told me. “That, and the poetry competition I initiated with COSTI Immigrant services.” The winning poems are compiled in a book titled, A Book of Poems: Expressions from our Youth. The collection acts as a memoir of ideas and perceptions held by young people on refugees, but also as the recognition of refugee identity and personhood through artistic expression. Khan vouches for the importance of education in making this recognition possible: “Education is absolutely necessary, in terms of awareness and making a difference. It’s needed to show why we should treat each other well. The Other is not an Other, but an extension of ourselves.”
A point reiterated by Khan is the necessity to humanize refugees, to understand their experiences as conditional and to value their contributions to Canadian society. On the value of advocacy work she says, “it is the ability to share our experiences so the person at the other end can take it and advocate for it as their own.” It is integral to understand the fluidity of the human experience and the agency central to the flight of refugees to ensure integration. This understanding is essential to provide protection and to find workable, durable solutions for their condition.