CIMM – Support to Decision-Makers at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) – March 24, 2022

Key messages

Members of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) are independent decision-makers who hear and adjudicate all cases based on their individual merits and the evidence presented, in accordance with the law.
All members must go through extensive training and orientation before hearing cases, with a strong emphasis on professional, fair and ethical conduct. Topics include intersectionality and trauma-informed practices, and unconscious bias in decision-making.
In addition, to support and enhance quality and consistency in decision-making, while respecting adjudicative independence, the IRB provides tools to members such as Chairperson’s Guidelines.
These Guidelines, which members are expected to apply, provide guidance on avoiding stereotypes and incorrect assumptions in decision-making and provide best practices in assessing credibility and evidence.

The IRB regularly reviews and updates its suite of adjudicative policy instruments to provide members with tools that reflect the most up-to-date research and case-law.
In recent years the Board undertook a comprehensive review of the Guidelines on Gender and on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics. It was recently published in December 2021.
The IRB is also currently updating its Chairperson’s Guidelines on gender, vulnerable persons and children.

The IRB has implemented a number of additional measures to ensure members have the training they need, including the establishment in 2020 of a Gender Related Task Force to bring enhanced expertise and awareness to the adjudication of gender-related refugee claims.
Members received extensive, specialized, evidence-based training from subject matter experts including lawyers and practitioners in trauma-informed practice.