Thank you very much, Madam Chair and honourable members. Thank you for this opportunity to provide you with an update on the progress we have been making with gender-based analysis in CIC since we last appeared before this committee.
May I draw your attention to the fact that we do have a handout for you, which I will be making reference to in my remarks.
As you know, CIC is the only federal department required by law to analyze and report to Parliament on gender-based impacts of our policies and programs, and this legislative requirement is quite unprecedented in federal statutes. We certainly take this requirement very seriously at CIC. Our work in response to this opportunity is ongoing, and as I will outline further, we have continued to make progress since we last appeared before the committee.
As you may recall, the function of gender-based analysis was first established in 2000 in Citizenship and Immigration. In 2005, we centralized this responsibility in a gender-based analysis unit within our strategic policy branch, and at the same time we launched our five-year strategic plan. In addition to conducting this analysis on behalf of the department, the unit also provides the tools, training, and support necessary to maintain and indeed strengthen our capacity for gender-based analysis throughout the department.
Establishing the unit was a great start, but we realized that we needed to do more and do things a bit differently. So last spring, following a reorganization in our department, we decided to move the gender-based analysis unit to provide greater opportunities to strengthen and integrate it into all existing departmental planning and reporting processes. The responsibility now falls under the corporate planning and reporting group, and their responsibilities now include providing guidance, planning, reporting, and capacity building for gender-based analysis.
The gender-based analysis is now carried out at the branch level, where most of our department's policy and program work occurs. We are looking forward to implementing gender-based analysis throughout the department and finding ways to make it part of our day-to-day business at CIC. For example, gender issues are included as part of the general discussions taking place in our policy committee, a new decision-making forum to discuss departmental policy directions for CIC.
As I have mentioned, the analysis is taking place at the branch level. Our five policy branches in the strategic and program policy sector have gender-based analysis plans and are in the process of updating them on an annual basis. These plans have resulted in tangible results, some of which were outlined in the annual report to Parliament on immigration, which was tabled in Parliament on October 31, and we've included it in your information package.
I am pleased to report that the results of gender-based analysis were included in our annual report of 2006 for the first time. For example, possible gender and diversity issues were analyzed by us in 2006 when we responded to the plight of some 800 Karen refugees who were going to be resettled from Thailand. The analysis allowed us to address and mitigate any issues that may arise during their settlement process.
Further analysis is under way to help us work more effectively with the sponsoring groups and service providers to ensure that these new arrivals to Canada receive effective support targeted to their individual needs.
A second example: we have used gender-based analysis to help us deal more effectively with the issue of human trafficking victims, most of whom are women. We recognize that women who are victims of this crime have unique protection needs. Instructions have been sent to all of our officers advising them on appropriate interview techniques and the importance of informing victims about counselling and other resources available to them as traumatized victims of crime.
To further assist the victims of trafficking, we have instituted a temporary resident permit for 120 days to ensure that victims have protection and legal status in Canada. This status also affords victims access to medical and psychological services as required to deal with their experiences.
This 120-day period of reflection gives victims the time they need to assess how they would like to move forward with their lives, including the choice of whether or not to assist with any prosecution of their trafficker. For those who wish to remain permanently in Canada, CIC provides them with the information required as to how to proceed. In addition to the initiatives outlined in the annual report, you can find other examples of GBA taking place in our department.
We continue to use gender-based data in our Facts and Figures publication, which provides information on new permanent residents in Canada, as well as temporary residents entering Canada to work or study.