Absolutely.
Yes, women human rights defenders, when they are risking their lives to protect human rights, justice or freedoms, find themselves in incredible danger. These things often happen within 24 hours or 48 hours. I'll give you the case of a human rights defender in Nicaragua just a couple of weeks ago when over 200 Nicaraguans were stripped of their citizenship, and we needed to find a solution for her urgently. We needed to get her out of the country, and we needed the support of a country to do that.
Here is where I think Canada falls short, and there's a lot of opportunity. First and foremost, we absolutely need an emergency visa system that is specifically designed for human rights defenders at risk. Right now, there's a gap in our immigration system. You can apply for a tourist visa or you can come as part of a refugee stream, but if you're in the country and need to leave, you will be denied a visa precisely because you are considered to be at risk of not returning to the country. You're penalized. Human rights defenders are penalized for their status.
We do need a stream for that. Some countries, particularly in Europe, have models that I think Canada can follow, including Ireland. That's the first thing.
Also, once they get here, they need support. We need to be able to fund a program for activists at risk that enables them to have the assistance. It could be in the form of fellowships or programs for activists at risk here in Canada that support them, so they're able to continue their work while they're temporarily relocated.
Lastly, I would say that we need a “Voices at Risk” guidelines equivalent for those who have left their countries and are here in exile. They're exiled in Canada. The “Voices at Risk” are very explicit for people who are outside, but once they've relocated and they've made it onto Canadian soil, these women human rights defenders find themselves lost in the system. We need clear guidelines to support them.