Canadians have broadly applauded the announcements that Canada is admitting and resettling Afghans who assisted the Canadian mission as well as vulnerable Afghans. This positive response reflects the best of Canadians; it is also the right thing to do.
We stand with those who now lack protection in Afghanistan under the Taliban – women judges, journalists, female leaders, LGBTI individuals, religious minorities, and human rights advocates. This is who Canadians are and should strive to be.
Now that the new cabinet has been appointed, the time has come for that leadership.
Landings joins World Refugee & Migration Council, Afghan Women’s Organization Refugee and Immigrant Services, Amnesty International Canada, Association québécoise des avocats et avocates en droit de l’immigration, Canadian Association for Refugee Lawyers, Canadian Hazara Humanitarian Services, Human Rights Watch, Lifeline Afghanistan, Journalist for Human Rights, PEN Canada and Rainbow Railroad in calling upon Prime Minister Trudeau, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada Sean Fraser and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly to urgently address the following four major issues that must be resolved if Canada is to achieve its purpose in securing the safe and timely evacuation of the at-risk individuals from Afghanistan targeted through Canada’s special programs.
Read the open letter here.