This summer, I had the opportunity to complete an internship with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Montreal. My interest in human rights and refugee law first emerged when I arrived in Toronto as an immigrant in 2015. In my ESL class, most of my classmates where Syrian refugees. Comparing our journey as newcomers to Canada exposed me to the harsh reality of immigration processes. Since, I have been deeply concerned with highlighting and combating human rights violations and vulnerabilities as a result of someone’s immigration status. At Ď㽶ĘÓƵ, I continued my studies in political science and history with a focus on migration policies. Interning with the UNHCR, the UN agency that is dedicated to protecting refugees’ rights and find durable solutions to allow displaced people to live in dignity and in peace, was an incredible opportunity. By the end of this internship, I have expanded my understanding of the goals, circumstances, and at time limitations of international law for the protection of refugees, while also being inspired by my co-workers on becoming a true advocate on refugee’s issues around the world.
The UNHCR’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who have been forced to flee due to persecution. The organisation works with governments to ensure that anyone has the right to seek asylum and find refuge in another country. The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol are the key legal documents that form the basis of their work. It defines the term “refugee” and outlines the rights of refugees, as well as the legal obligations States have. With this internship, I had the privilege to observe firsthand on how these goals were being achieved. In Canada, the UNHCR works closely with the government to make recommendations and improve Canada’s asylum system.
My daily tasks required me to do a press review of news article of the Canadian press on immigration related issues. This allows the organisation to stay up to date with the public’s perception on refugees and some of the discourses made by different stakeholder. Many of the articles I reviewed referred to the war in Ukraine and Afghan refugees. This summer, due to Canada’s labour shortage, most of the discourse was in favor of welcoming more immigrants and refugees. However, one of the main issues encountered this summer was the backlog of applications accumulated due to the pandemic. This caused asylum seekers to wait many years before their refugee status could be determined. This put asylum seekers in a difficult situation to secure work and housing. The UNHCR worked closely with the government to offer support this current situation. As an intern, I would support this mission by assisting to some of the meetings between the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRRC), lawyers, and NGO’s. I also had the opportunity to assist in some of the communication campaigns to raise awareness about refugees’ rights. Notably, a guide helping journalists to report accurately refugees’ issues. A lot of confusion remains in the public about who is a refugee and what rights they are entitled to. I was also given the opportunity to prepare a presentation on climate change and the consequences it would have on displacement.
With some of the COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, I was able to work at the office in Montreal twice a week and get to know my coworkers in person. Having this opportunity to interact in person truly made a huge difference. I assisted to different in-person events, including World Refugee Day. We organized a documentary screening – Seuls - on non-accompanied children arriving to Canada. At the end of the movie, we were lucky enough to hear from two of the protagonists and ask questions about their journey as refugees in Canada. I felt extremely grateful to be part of these events in person again.
One of the many highlights of this internship was to learn from my supervisor - Denise Otis. Denise has an extensive amount of experience and dedication for refugees. She inspired me to continue to do this work while also remaining hopeful and kind to people around you and to not get carried away by the heaviness of the world. After this internship, I am feeling confident about continuing my studies in human rights and refugees’ law. I would like to thank all my co-workers at the UNHCR office in Canada who have welcomed me this summer and have made my experience memorable. I would also like to thank the Carol and Lloyd Darlington Arts Internship Awards and the McGill Arts Internship Office for offering such an incredible opportunity. And last but not least, I would like to thank Mr. Darlington for the generous support allowing me to pursue this internship.
