
The Designated Countries of Origin (DCO) list, commonly known as the Safe Countries of Origin list, is a list of 35 countries that Canada has deemed to be safe countries for refugees.
Refugee claimants who arrive in Canada from DCO countries will be rushed through the refugee claim process, deprived of important procedural protections, and denied fundamental justice. Canada’s Designated Countries of Origin (DCO) scheme creates a two-tier refugee determination system which discriminates between refugee claimants based on their nationality (i.e. their country of origin). The scheme was introduced as part of legislation which amended the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and passed into law on June 28, 2012.
When a person makes a claim for protection in Canada, the grounds of this claim are assessed by the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). An IRB official decides whether the claimant meets the definition of “refugee” set out in the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. A positive decision grants the claimant protected status in Canada. Yet in cases where a claimant comes from a designated country – that is, a country identified as “safe” by the Canadian government – they must submit to a fast-track process which cuts in half the time they have to prepare for a hearing before the IRB. Such an unreasonable time restriction compromises the claimant’s ability to gather evidence and engage social and legal supports necessary to prove their claim. A claimant from a DCO is also denied eligibility for certain procedural protections, like access to an appeals process, which are afforded to claimants under the regular determination system.
Media Releases
FCA decision upholding Safe Third Country Agreement: a backwards step for human rights
The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers is deeply concerned by today’s Federal Court of Appeal decision upholding the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). The Court dismissed the challenge on highly technical legal grounds related to [...]
Missing and Missed: Report of the Independent Civilian Review into Missing Person Investigations
CARL is pleased to have supported "Missing and Missed: Report of the Independent Civilian Review into Missing Person Investigations", authored by the Honourable Gloria J. Epstein. The Report was released today, April 13, 2021. Read [...]
2021 Webinar Series: Pandemic Healthcare PR Applications
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF REFUGEE LAWYERS 2021 WEBINAR SERIES Please join CARL for the first installment of our 2021 webinar series: Pandemic Healthcare PR Applications: A Q&A with IRCC on Eligibility Requirements and Processing Friday, [...]
Media Release – Canadian government defends the Safe Third Country Agreement despite human rights violations of refugees
On February 23 and 24, 2021, the Federal Court of Appeal will hear arguments from Canada in support of the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), after the Federal Court ruled the agreement unconstitutional. The Canadian Association of [...]
Ministerial Relief
https://vimeo.com/491284391
Ebrahim Toure Case & Need for CBSA Oversight: Notice of Availability for Comment
December 11, 2020 Notice of Availability for Comment The reports of the Canada Border Services Agency’s involvement in procurement of fraudulent documents overseas and providing false evidence and testimony to the Immigration and Refugee [...]