Thank you for the question.
In the current context, my answers will revolve around four key areas, primarily regarding funding and the role Canada can play in funding international co-operation missions.
First, Canada can create and strengthen funds for professional programs, for example. Paid internships for human rights defenders in exile come to mind. I experienced this first-hand when I had the opportunity to work for Equitas last year as a communications assistant, as part of the international human rights training program. I myself benefited from such internships in 2023. It's a concrete example.
Grants could also be awarded to these exiled individuals. They could then take advantage of programs offered by organizations specializing in human rights, such as Equitas, Amnesty International and many others, which they can approach to secure internships. That is my first proposal.
The other proposal is to accelerate knowledge and skills acquisition. I arrived here in 2023 and submitted my master’s thesis in legal and political sciences, but I still haven’t received a response. The goal is to create a certification pathway for human rights-related professions in the community or public policy sectors. Doing so would allow us to apply the experience we’ve gained at the national or Canadian level on the ground. The key message is that we are not starting from scratch; we are adapting our systems and our experience to the Canadian context.