CANADA: Thousands of refugee claims rejected by the immigration and Refugee Board since 1989 should be reviewed after a judge called some board procedures a breach of justice a coalition says.
Meanwhile, 4 moratoriums on all deportations of failed refugees claimants should be declared, said the group, which includes the Refugee Lawyers Association and the Canadian Council for Refugees. ‘Alter the testimony, one of the board members writes up reasons for a decision. Since many of the members aren’t lawyers, it has been the board’s practice to have those decisions reviewed by a staff lawyer. The judge didn’t mind the idea of decisions being reviewed. But he attacked the practice of having complete files from the hearings with tapes and transcripts of testimony being given to the board lawyers as well. “There is a danger the ultimate decision was not being made by the people who heard the case,” said Jack Martin, a member of the executive of the Refugee Lawyers Association.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 17, 1993
