2018-2019 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada departmental progress report for Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Women, Peace and Security

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is participating in the second generation of the Action Plan as a supporting partner. The Department will promote and support the Action Plan as the lead department on international migration issues and in supporting and protecting women and girls through Canada’s immigration processing, programs, and services. IRCC also works with likeminded countries at the multilateral level on issues of global importance—such as migration and the resettlement, integration of refugees from conflict-affected countries, and initiatives to build the capacity of international organizations to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. IRCC recognizes that women and girls are particularly vulnerable to being targeted for sexual and gender-based violence in situations of conflict and state fragility. In keeping with the principles of Canada’s National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security (WPS), the Department has put in place a number of policies and programs designed to provide protection and support to women and girls displaced by situations of conflict and state fragility. IRCC also provides targeted settlement supports for populations that experience increased vulnerability, including women and refugees. These services address the settlement and integration barriers for this population – empowering women and girls so they can participate in Canada’s social, cultural, civic and economic life.

Contributions on the international stage

In December 2018, Canada joined a large majority of United Nations General Assembly Member States in adopting two Global Compacts, one on Refugees and one for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (Global Compact for Migration). The Compacts provide a compendium of best practices to provide guidance for States to consider when developing or updating migration-related policies and programs, as well as when implementing larger objectives to align with Canadian values, such as the respect for human rights and protection of the most vulnerable, including women and children on the move or forcibly displaced as a result of conflict. Almost 50% of international migrants are women, and gender considerations are, therefore, an important aspect of discussions, policies and actions taken in relation to migration. As States begin to implement both Compacts, Canada will continue to share and participate in and advocate for the development of gender-transformative and intersectional migration management practices and refugee responses within the international community. 

Protecting refugees

IRCC places a high priority on the protection of refugee women and recognizes their unique protection needs. Through the Women at Risk program, Canada provides resettlement opportunities to women abroad in precarious or permanently unstable situations who do not have the formal protection of a family unit. This includes women who are experiencing significant difficulties, such as harassment by local authorities or members of their own communities.

IRCC provides assistance through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) for 12 months to Government Assisted Refugees (GARs), assistance for 6 months to Blended Visa Office Referred (BVOR) refugees, and assistance for 3 months to LGBTQ+ refugees who are privately sponsored (through a cost sharing arrangement with Rainbow Refugee society). IRCC also provides assistance to refugees who are identified as having special needs through Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) for up to 24 months.

Considerations in the asylum system regarding gender-related persecution

In addition to programs for resettling vulnerable women and girls from abroad, the in-Canada asylum system provides gender-specific protection to in-Canada refugee claimants who have fled conflicts or fragile states. The Department has developed specific program delivery instructions with respect to processing in-Canada claims for refugee protection of minors and other vulnerable persons. Provisions include ensuring a vulnerable person’s physical comfort; being sensitive to cultural and gender issues; and efforts to allow victims of sexual violence the option of choosing the gender of the interviewing officer.

Additionally, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), which hears asylum claims, has a set of guidelines specifically on how to treat vulnerable groups, including women refugee claimants fearing gender-related persecution. In May 2017, the IRB also announced a new Guideline to promote greater understanding of cases involving sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, and the harm individuals may face due to their non-conformity with socially accepted norms. This Guideline aims to promote a greater understanding of the diversity and complexity that can be associated with having diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression; establish guiding principles for decision-makers in adjudicating cases; and provide parties with a clearer understanding of what to expect when appearing before the IRB.

Supporting settlement and integration in Canada

IRCC recognizes the significant contributions that newcomer women make to the economic, social, civic, and cultural life of Canada, and their key role in the settlement and integration of the family unit once they have arrived to Canada. Migration to Canada can bring many opportunities for women, but can also include distinct and multiple challenges such as navigating a new language, work transitions, childcare responsibilities, developing new networks, and shifts in family dynamics. Providing targeted settlement supports for vulnerable populations, including women and refugees, remains a priority area.

To address these challenges, the Settlement Program funds a range of targeted settlement services that can be accessed by newcomer and refugee women, including a pilot project to support employment programming for visible minority women, as well as additional supports such as mentoring, information and orientation on rights and responsibilities in Canada, women’s only employment and language training, and gender-based violence prevention support. Many of the organizations that deliver settlement programming in the area of violence prevention have strong community partnerships in place with local transition houses, police, and key emergency services to ensure holistic programming for victims of abuse.  These include activities and information to mitigate the risks of exposure to gender-based violence by strengthening knowledge of Canadian laws, social cohesion and community connections. These services are provided through online resources, publications, a variety of in-person services, as well as through referrals to important community supports. In addition, child-minding and transportation services are offered to ensure that women, who are often the primary caregivers, are able to access these integration services. 

IRCC funded Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) services delivered to government assisted refugees upon arrival in Canada include referrals, when appropriate, to specialized services such as Centers for Victims of Trauma and/or Torture, as well as orientation to Canadian laws, including informing clients that in Canada women and men have the same rights and opportunities and abuse of any sort (e.g., physical, psychological or sexual) is a crime.

As with the in-Canada asylum process, the Department has developed specific program delivery instructions with respect to the resettlement of minors and other vulnerable persons.

In support of the Syrian resettlement effort, Canada funded enhancements to support the unique settlement needs of Syrian refugee women. These included additional conversation circles specifically for women to enable them to establish valuable social connections, learn about available community supports, practice their new language skills, and reduce isolation.

Actions to address gender-based violence to support newcomers to Canada

IRCC is a key partner in the federal action plan to end gender based violence, It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. The strategy builds on federal initiatives already under way and coordinates existing programs. Under the strategy, IRCC received $1.5 million in funding over five years to further enhance the Settlement Program. This funding is being used to deliver targeted services for newcomer women and youth with place-based interventions as well as training for front-line settlement workers to assist in identifying abuse and making appropriate referrals for newcomers, including those in smaller cities and rural communities. IRCC also works closely with the federal department Women and Gender Equality on additional initiatives such as Engaging Men and Boys to address GBV as well as sharing promising practices with Settlement Provider Organizations.

IRCC resettles vulnerable refugees who have been forced to flee their home country due to persecution or massive conflict, including LGBTQ2 individuals who are often at heightened risk due to their sexual orientation or identity. The Department offers specialized settlement supports to all LGBTQ2 immigrants, including refugees upon arrival in Canada. The Department continues to work with LGBTQ2 stakeholders in Canada to collaboratively improve the available supports and ensure the refugee resettlement program includes an adequate LGBTQ2 lens.

In April 2017, IRCC removed a regulatory requirement that applied to some sponsored spouses or partners of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to live with their sponsor for two years as a condition to maintaining their permanent resident status. Previously, conditional permanent residence was in place for sponsored spouses or partners of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who were in a relationship of two years or less and had no children in common at the time of their sponsorship application. Sponsored spouses or partners were required to live with their sponsor for two years or risk losing their permanent resident status. Eliminating conditional permanent residence addresses concerns that vulnerable sponsored spouses or partners may stay in abusive relationships out of fear of losing their permanent resident status. This change is aligned with overall government efforts to support gender equality and combat gender-based violence.

Actions to reduce vulnerability in the immigration system

IRCC has taken other steps designed to reduce vulnerability in the immigration system. In June 2015, a regulatory amendment to increase the minimum age of a recognized spouse from 16 to 18 in all permanent and temporary immigration programs came into effect. This was intended to decrease the number of potentially vulnerable young spouses immigrating to Canada who may not have the capacity to act in their own best interest, and could prevent some forced marriages from occurring.  At the same time, regulations came into force to ensure that marriages that were conducted by proxy, telephone, fax, Internet or other similar forms (i.e. marriages where one or both parties were not physically present at the marriage ceremony), would no longer be recognized within permanent and temporary immigration programs.

Integration of gender considerations in IRCC’s policies and programs

IRCC is committed to integrating Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) to assess the potential impacts of its policies, programs, services and other initiatives on diverse groups of women, men and gender-diverse people, taking into account gender and other identity factors (e.g. race, ethnicity and religion).

IRCC has awarded a contract to a non-governmental organization to develop gender-based violence training for IRCC officers processing immigration applications, as well as for IRCC Client Support Centre Staff.  Once fully developed and launched, this training is intended to increase employee awareness of different forms of gender-based violence and equip them with tools to identify and appropriately address cases of abuse.  It will complement existing general training and guidance for these employees with more comprehensive training dedicated solely to the topic of gender-based violence and tailored to the immigration and newcomer context, to help ensure a trauma-informed approach to addressing these cases.  This training aligns with the Government’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence, in contribution to the federal GBV Strategy to support victims across Canada, including migrants and newcomers.

IRCC is committed to addressing the following broad Action Plan objectives/actions which are of relevance to its work:

• To respond to sexual and gender-based violence in conflict;
• To promote and protect gender equality and women’s and girls’ human rights and empowerment; and
• To meet the specific needs of women and girls in humanitarian settings.

The bulk of IRCC’s work is mainly through domestic policy and programs, but IRCC also works with likeminded countries at the multilateral level on issues of global importance. In doing so, the Department contributes in important ways toward the empowerment, inclusion and protection of women and girls around the world – while taking into account gender and intersecting identity factors such as age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and ability.

The following activities that IRCC undertakes reflect IRCC’s commitment to advancing the Action Plan in its capacity as a supporting partner organization^{Footnote 1}:

Objective 1

Gender is integrated in relevant IRCC program and application processes when IRCC programs (domestic and abroad) are developed or revised to ensure all efforts are made to meet relevant Action Plan objectives and to ensure a gender-responsive approach to applicants, refugees and other newcomers.

Activities

Refugee Resettlement Program

A-1.1 Maintain high priority on the protection, support, and empowerment of refugee women, recognize their unique needs through the Women at Risk program, and continue to resettle the most vulnerable groups, including refugee women and girls from abroad.

Settlement Program

A-1.2 Continue to fund and implement a range of targeted settlement services that can be accessed by newcomer women, including refugees, such as mentoring, information and orientation on rights and responsibilities, employment, language supports, and family and gender-based violence prevention support, as well as support services which include childcare, transportation assistance, translation, interpretation, temporary crisis counseling, and provisions for addressing disabilities, to reduce barriers to access settlement services.

A-1.3 As part of the “It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence” (GBV Strategy), implement enhancements to the Settlement Program to offer place-based services for newcomers who may face challenges in accessing gender-based violence supports and to provide training for front-line settlement workers to help identify gender-based violence and make appropriate referrals to support immigrant and refugee women and girls.

A-1.4 Establish a framework to assess vulnerability of women, girls, men, boys and gender-diverse people.

Completed Activities

Refugee Resettlement Program

In 2018, Canada resettled 28,087 refugees, 48% (13,367) of whom were women and girls. Canada relies on the United Nations Refugee Agency to identify the most vulnerable refugees in need of resettlement, including women and girls.

In 2018, Canada resettled 754 persons under the Women at Risk program, 543 of whom were women and girls.

Since the beginning of the Survivors of Daesh initiative in October 2017, until March 31, 2019, Canada resettled 1,438 Survivors of Daesh, 798 (55%) of whom were women and girls.

The Rainbow Refugee Assistance Pilot is in place to increase awareness of the unique needs of LGBTQ2+ refugees among Canadian sponsors and to strengthen overall sponsorship for those persecuted on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity expression. In March 2018, the Government of Canada renewed the cost-sharing agreement with the Rainbow Refugee Society until March 31, 2020. Additional funding of $100,000 was made available to support privately sponsored refugees under this pilot.

Settlement Program

Through the Settlement Program, IRCC continued to ensure that targeted settlement supports for vulnerable populations, including refugees, women, and LGBTQ2+ individuals, remain a priority.

The IRCC Settlement Program 2019 Call for Proposal process had a customized services stream for gender specific programming to advance gender equality, prevent gender based violence (GBV), and develop initiatives to engage men and boys on these issues. Applicants were encouraged to submit proposals with programming supports for victims of GBV and non-stigmatizing opportunities for dialogue on sensitive topics to develop healthy perspectives on gender roles and relationships. IRCC also encouraged applications that support gender equality capacity building and resource development for service provider organizations, the use of a gender based analysis+ lens, as well as the maximization of community partnerships and expertise on these issues.

The Policy Approach to Newcomer Vulnerability was developed by working horizontally to align IRCC departmental efforts with those of other government departments. Horizontal work has moved forward via a Director General Forum on Immigrant Integration towards a shared policy approach to vulnerability as part of the Government’s inclusiveness agenda.

In December 2018, the Visible Minority Newcomer Women (VMNW) Pilot, an initiative to support career and employment-related programming for VMNW totalling $31.9M over three years, was launched to:

• Increase existing, effective services that already serve VMNW;
• Establish new partnerships with non-traditional partners; and
• Evaluate the effectiveness of employment-related services for VMNW.

Gender X

The Department is introducing the ‘X’ gender identifier (another gender) to the options of F (Female) and M (Male) on passports, identity documents and certificates. This includes all immigration, citizenship, refugee, and permanent resident and travel documents. The X is an internationally recognized identifier which adheres to international standards on travel document specifications, set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Training

A training module on GBA+ in the annual refugee course for officers who are posted in missions and that are processing a high number of refugee cases. Two courses/training sessions were provided with this module on gender and decision making, namely, the Foreign Service Development Program and Refugee training. As well, IRCC Visa Officers were offered training in relation to gender sensitivity in resettlement prior to being sent on assignment overseas in May 2018. Additionally, once overseas, officers acquire additional tools and mission-specific training to ensure an understanding of the customs, culture and norms for marriages and relationships in the cases they process, which are inclusive of gender and diversity considerations.

As well, as part of GBA+ Awareness Week in November 2018, a panel discussion was held to discuss insights and innovations concerning GBV. Finally, IRCC awarded a contract to a non-governmental organization to develop GBV training for IRCC officers processing immigration applications, as well as for IRCC Client Support Centre staff.

Progress

Resettlement

Canada is on track to resettle an additional 1,000 refugee women and girls by the end of 2019. This is in addition to planned refugee resettlement targets and increased resettlement through the Women at Risk program.

Settlement Supports

In 2018-19, IRCC invested over $767 million to support the settlement needs of approximately 519,000 clients who accessed at least one Settlement Program service in Canada (outside of Quebec). Women were the majority of clients (55%) and used every type of settlement service at a higher rate than men, particularly language training (66% women). Further, some women-only language classes and conversation circles were offered.

In 2016, the department developed a multilingual violence prevention resource card available in English, French, Arabic, Punjabi, Mandarin, Spanish, and Tagalog. Information directs clients to a variety of resources that can be accessed in most places throughout Canada. In 2018-19, 143,000 cards were disseminated.

Further, seven sponsorship agreement holders actively resettle LGBTQ2+ refugees. IRCC will continue to collaborate with the Rainbow Refugee Society and LGBTQ2+ stakeholders to increase the resettlement of LGBTQ2+ refugees in Canada.

In 2018-19, three service provider organizations received funding to deliver Gender-based Violence (GBV) programming. Moving forward, a coalition of four settlement and anti-violence sector organizations are working together to implement the strategy nationally. 

Training/Engagement

Once fully developed and launched, GBV training is intended to increase employee awareness of different forms of GBV and provide tools to identify and appropriately address cases of abuse. Complementing existing general training and guidance, it will be tailored to the immigration and newcomer context, ensuring a trauma-informed approach to addressing these cases, and align with the Government’s commitment through the federal GBV Strategy to address GBV and support victims across Canada, including migrants and newcomers.

The “Gender Sensitivity in Resettlement, Visa Officer Training” raised awareness about the issues that Visa Officers may face when encountering refugee survivors of gender-based violence who apply for resettlement in Canada. The training, presented to 20 individuals, was based mainly on materials from the United Nations Refugees Agency Resettlement Handbook and Training Materials. Handouts were provided to trainees for further reference.

A panel discussion took place in November 2018 that provided exposure to over 40 IRCC staff to the unique needs of diverse populations who have survived GBV. Innovative approaches to service delivery were highlighted at this well-attended event such as the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society's New Pride Program.

The introduction of the X identifier will be supported by updated online content, forms, and guidance material for use by staff. Additionally, IRCC is offering gender inclusivity training for service delivery and within the workplace.

A federal interdepartmental forum on immigrant integration was re-launched to facilitate collaboration and information sharing, with two meetings taking place in 2018-19. This forum provided a foundation for engaging within the federal family to develop a common definition/perspective on vulnerable groups. Working groups were established to guide 1) a federal narrative on inclusion and 2) advancing data and evidence on vulnerable groups. This work is to continue in summer 2019.

Indicators and Results

Refugee Resettlement Program 

I-1.1 Number of applicants (and/or dependents including spouses) who came to Canada through the Women at Risk Program.

Results: In 2018, Canada resettled 754 persons under the Women at Risk program, 543 of whom were women and girls.

Settlement Program

I-1.2 Number of new settlement services based on gender violence interventions for newcomer women and families (such as activities to mitigate the risks of exposure to gender-based violence by strengthening knowledge of Canadian laws, social cohesion, and referrals to essential community supports specializing in violence prevention).

Results: In 2016, the department developed a multilingual violence prevention resource card available in English, French, Arabic, Punjabi, Mandarin, Spanish, and Tagalog. Information directs clients to a variety of resources that can be accessed in most places throughout Canada. In 2018-19, 143,000 cards were disseminated.

Three service provider organizations received funding to deliver Gender Based Violence (GBV) programming through the GBV Strategy in FY 2018/19. Moving forward, a coalition of four settlement and anti-violence sector organizations are working together to implement the strategy nationally. 

I-1.3 Number of female clients who access each component of the Settlement Program (information and orientation, needs assessment and referral, language training, employment related services, community connections, and support services.

Results: In 2018-19, IRCC invested over $767 million to support the settlement needs of approximately 519,000 clients who accessed at least one Settlement Program service in Canada (outside of Quebec). Women were the majority of clients (55%) and used every type of settlement service at a higher rate than men, particularly language training (66% women). Further, some women-only language classes and conversation circles were offered.

I-1.4 Percentage of newcomers and settlement workers who receive interventions funded by the GBV Strategy enhancement to the Settlement Program that report increased knowledge of gender-based violence and awareness of available services.

Results: Three service provider organizations received funding to deliver GBV programming through the GBV Strategy in FY 2018/19. Moving forward, a coalition of four settlement and anti-violence sector organizations are working together to implement the strategy nationally. 

I-1.5 Creation and implementation of a policy framework for defining vulnerability.

Results: The Policy Approach to Newcomer Vulnerability was developed by working horizontally to align IRCC departmental efforts with those of other government departments. Horizontal work has moved forward via a Director General Forum on Immigrant Integration towards a shared policy approach to vulnerability as part of the Government’s inclusiveness agenda.

Objective 2 

IRCC employees are aware of women, peace and security issues and make gender-based considerations in the application of program and provision of services

Activities

A-2.1 Continue to provide the training sessions on gender persecution and persecution based on sexual orientation as part of specific staff training before they go overseas to missions abroad to process the refugee caseload.

A-2.2 Encourage all IRCC staff and senior management to complete the Status of Women Canada’s GBA+ online introduction course, which provides a foundational understanding of applying gender and identity considerations to policies and programs.

Completed Activities

Through the Settlement Program, funding is being used to develop a national settlement sector strategy on GBV through a coordinated coalition of settlement and anti-violence sector organizations. The strategy will include the standardization of GBV policies and protocols, the establishment of a common base of knowledge on GBV, training for front-line settlement workers to assist in identifying abuse and making appropriate referrals, as well as a promising practice model of GBV prevention programming for clients accessing services, including those in smaller cities and rural areas.

Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processes for Victims of Family Violence

The Minister has announced his intention to implement a package of measures that includes an expedited Temporary Resident Permit and Humanitarian and Compassionate process for in-Canada cases involving victims of spousal/partner violence, a disproportionate number of whom are women. Individuals not eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance coverage will be provided with Interim Federal Health Program group discretionary coverage for the duration of this Temporary Resident Permit. Concurrently, the Minister intends to introduce a public policy to exempt these foreign nationals from payment of initial temporary resident permit or work permit fees. Implementation is anticipated on July 26, 2019.

IRCC’s Migration Policy Development Program fund continued to support a partnership with Talent Beyond Boundaries for the Economic Mobility Pathways Project, which evaluates the barriers refugees face in accessing a durable solution through Canada’s existing economic migration pathways. The project aims to facilitate the creation of a gender-balanced pool of francophone and anglophone refugees who have strong economic settlement potential. As well, IRCC has funded a research project by PhD researcher Vathsala Illesinghe under the 2018-19 Migration Policy Development Program. The project consists of research and a workshop on the barriers faced by women to access migration pathways to Canada. The activities will include meetings with government officials, immigrant recruiting agencies and civil society advocates, and will add a gender lens to the analysis of immigration policies.

Progress

Web Content to Help Sponsored Spouses and Partners

 The updated web content will help inform sponsored spouses and partners about how to get help in cases of abuse and neglect and includes information regarding their rights and freedoms, family law, and protection from fraud. The updates went live in November and were accompanied by social media messaging to remind clients of the repeal of conditional permanent residence.

Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processes for Victims of Family Violence

To ensure that migration officers and other implicated departmental employees are well supported to implement this initiative, IRCC is currently developing gender-based violence training for relevant employees, intended to be launched next fiscal year. A communications strategy is being developed to ensure that affected clients and stakeholders are aware of the new measures. All communications products will emphasize that combating family violence and ensuring the safety of abuse victims is a top priority for the Government of Canada.

Indicators and Results

I-2.1 Number of courses or training sessions given with a module on gender and decision-making (ex. Foreign Service Development Program training, Locally Engaged Officers training, refugee training, etc.).

Results: Through the Settlement Program, funding is being used to develop a national settlement sector strategy on GBV through a coordinated coalition of settlement and anti-violence sector organizations. The strategy will include the standardization of GBV policies and protocols, the establishment of a common base of knowledge on GBV, training for front-line settlement workers to assist in identifying abuse and making appropriate referrals, as well as a promising practice model of GBV prevention programming for clients accessing services, including those in smaller cities and rural areas.

I-2.2 Number of staff who complete the Status of Women Canada’s GBA+ online introduction course.

Results: See “Training” in the above Completed Activities section.

I-2.3 Number of staff (overseas Locally Engaged Staff or other IRCC) who participated in the “gender and decision-making” training session.

Results: The “Gender Sensitivity in Resettlement, Visa Officer Training” raised awareness about the issues that Visa Officers may face when encountering refugee survivors of gender-based violence who apply for resettlement in Canada. The training, presented to 20 individuals, was based mainly on materials from the United Nations Refugees Agency Resettlement Handbook and Training Materials. Handouts were provided to trainees for further reference.

Objective 3

Promoting gender-based initiatives in international fora

Activities

A-3.1 Support gender-based initiatives in the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Migration and other agreements, fora or frameworks.

Completed Activities

• IRCC continued to advocate for gender-responsive humanitarian action, in line with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, through statements at multilateral fora, and at meetings with key UN Refugee Agency officials, as well as through informal stakeholder engagement at the 2018 UN Refugee Agency Executive Committee meeting. Canada also continued to promote the use of gender and age-disaggregated data by partners.
• Canada voted for the affirmation of the gender-sensitive Global Compact on Refugees at the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 73) in New York in December 2018.
• Canada was successful in promoting the inclusion of gender-responsive considerations throughout the negotiations of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, including as one of 10 overarching Guiding Principles. Canada was recognized by other Member States as being a leading voice in negotiations on this issue.
• Canada successfully advocated for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s High Level Panel on Migration Report (November 2018) to address the gendered dimensions of international migration, with an emphasis on the experiences of women and girls.
• IRCC has integrated gender as a cross-cutting consideration in the development of Canada’s 2019-2020 chairmanship theme of the Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees.
• At the Global Forum on Migration and Development Summit (December 2018), Canada co-led a discussion with the United Arab Emirates on harnessing the capital of migrants to realize their potential, which incorporated a focus on the gendered dimensions of migration.
• IRCC continued to consider gender perspectives in its assessment of projects selected for funding under its Migration Policy Development program, a grants program within IRCC that allows Canada to support research on migration issues, promote the exchange of information among states, gain access to the work of these organizations, and contribute to public discussion in this field.

Progress

During the course of UNGA 73, Minister Hussen attended a high-level panel discussion, Women and Girls on the Move: A Call to Protect, at which he intervened to reiterate Canada’s commitment to better strengthen sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response strategies in humanitarian settings, and confirm Canada’s lead, in 2019, of the multi-stakeholder initiative Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies.

IRCC is consulting civil society, among other key stakeholders and partners, on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). This includes consultations with experts in gender and international migration, who are part of a UN Women-led expert group providing input to the UN system implementation of the GCM and establishment of the related UN Migration Network. Canada is exploring how to effectively promote meaningful approaches to gender in GCM implementation domestically and in the UN system.

Indicators and Results

I-3.1 Number of initiatives implemented under the Global Compacts that focus specifically on gender or that directly contribute to a gender-responsive implementation of either Compact.

Results: See the above Completed Activities section.

I-3.2 IRCC engagements in bilateral and multilateral fora where Action Plan objectives were considered.

Results: During the course of UNGA 73, Minister Hussen attended a high-level panel discussion, Women and Girls on the Move: A Call to Protect, at which he intervened to reiterate Canada’s commitment to better strengthen sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response strategies in humanitarian settings, and confirm Canada’s lead, in 2019, of the multi-stakeholder initiative Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies.