Our mandate: LRWC does not provide resettlement assistance or legal advice

Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) conducts research, education and advocacy relevant to the right of lawyers and human rights defenders to uphold, advocate, and report on international human rights issues and to advocate the implementation of international human rights law.

LRWC is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or services to the general public. LRWC volunteers DO NOT provide

legal advice
referrals to other lawyers
immigration and refugee resettlement advice or assistane
assistance in obtaining consular protection

To obtain assistance, we suggest the following.

Canada’s refugee stream for human rights defenders at risk

To be considered for Canada’s refugee program for human rights defenders at risk, individuals must be referred to the Government of Canada by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The Government of Canada is working with Front Line Defenders (canadaprogram@frontlinedefenders.org) or ProtectDefenders.eu who are experts in the field of protection for human rights defenders. These organizations work with the UNHCR to identify human rights defenders most in need of resettlement.

More information on seeking asylum in Canada:

General information from the Government of Canada about seeking asylum in Canada.
General information from the UN Refugee Agency about making an asylum claim in Canada.
Information dated 25 August 2021 provided by the FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto about Canada’s special program for vulnerable Afghans.
Information about private refugee sponsorship from the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program
Information for Canadian citizens about emergency consular protection.