Canada to Host High-Level Meeting of Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative

Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative brings together privately sponsored refugees, sponsor groups, leaders from civil society and business, international organizations and government representatives interested in replicating Canada’s private sponsorship model.

Ottawa, ON – Following an announcement in September 2016, the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative will be gathering in Ottawa from Tuesday, December 13 to Thursday, December 15. Representatives from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States will gather to learn about Canada’s private sponsorship model and consider how it can be adopted and supported in their countries and others.

Canada’s model of private refugee sponsorship has facilitated the resettlement of more than 288,000 refugees since it began in the late 1970s. More than 13,000 Syrian refugees have been resettled to Canada through private sponsorship since November 2015.

Research demonstrates that privately sponsored refugees—those who are supported financially and socially by individuals, families, or organizations—have relatively early, positive integration outcomes.

The Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative—led by the Government of Canada, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the University of Ottawa, the Radcliffe Foundation, and the Open Society Foundations—is designed to provide training and advice to countries interested in replicating the Canadian model. It complements other initiatives under development around the world that aim to mobilize citizens and create alternative pathways for admission of refugees. Furthering private sponsorship can help to build social support for welcoming refugees and build more diverse and inclusive societies.

A press briefing including The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and partner representatives will be held on Wednesday.

Details: Launch of three days of meetings of the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative, a gathering of Canadian and international stakeholders to discuss the value of private sponsorship programs and strategies for bringing such programs to other countries.

Who: Civil society organizations, government representatives, business leaders, private sponsors, and refugees are gathering.

Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Time: 12:30 p.m. (local time)

Place:

National Press Theatre
150 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario

Note for media:

• Media should arrive no later than 12:15 p.m. (local time)
• Journalists who are not members of the National Press Gallery will require accreditation from the gallery in advance. For more information, contact Marc Fortier at marc.fortier@parl.gc.ca.

For more information (media only):

Media Relations
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
National Headquarters
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
https://ircc.canada.ca/

Open Society Foundations
https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/

Radcliffe Foundation
http://radcliffefoundation.org/

UNHCR
http://www.unhcr.org/

University of Ottawa
http://www.uottawa.ca/