SAR Carleton is pleased to share this June 2024 report produced by two Ottawa-based NGOs working with exiled activists and human rights defenders: Resilient Societies and Cooperation Canada. The report, titled “Struggles Across Borders: Report on the Experience and Needs of Exiled Activists and Human Rights Defenders in Canada”, outlines the same kinds of challenges faced by Scholars at Risk: how to provide capacity, stability, and care for individuals who have had to flee their homelands for political reasons. The texts below are excerpted from their report. Click here for the full English and French versions.
Resilient Societies (RS) is an activists-led hub providing support and safe spaces for grassroots networks of human rights defenders, democracy and civil society activists, and practitioners from “closing” and “closed” civic spaces.
RS’ work builds on Canada’s rich culture of embracing diversity and pluralism, and its generosity in supporting and welcoming at-risk activists, to design organic and innovative program with impacts in the diaspora and activists’ native countries. In so doing, it provides a global platform for solidarity, innovation, and advocacy among human rights defenders and democracy activists from countries where the democratic space is under threat. By building resilience, enhancing voice and agency, and raising the credibility and relevance of civil society activists and human rights defenders from such environments, RS contributes to reversing democratic backsliding and shrinking civic spaces.
Resilient Societies (RS) is hosted by Cooperation Canada.
Executive Summary of Struggles Across Borders
Human rights and civic space are under attack. Globally, we are witnessing a concerning trend of shrinking civic spaces and democratic backsliding, with an increasing number of countries adopting repressive measures against civil society activists and human rights defenders (HRDs). Against this backdrop, Cooperation Canada and Resilient Societies collaborated on a research project funded by IDRC, aiming to explore the unique experiences and needs of exiled activists and human rights defenders living in Canada. With a view towards needs-based and evidence-informed responses,research findings will help inform the mission, vision, and strategic programming of Resilient Soci- eties, an emerging platform for enhancing the voice and agency of activists, HRDs, and grassroots civil society organizations. Resilient Societies is currently being incubated at Cooperation Canada. Conducted over a period of four months, the research project started with initial consultations with key stakeholders from civil society, academia, and government, followed by focus group discus- sions in three Canadian cities: Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. In total, twenty-seven activists and human rights defenders in exile participated in this research.
This project uncovered significant insights about:
- Adaptation and support systems in Canada: Participants highlighted the need for robust support systems to foster the resilience of exiled activists and human rights defenders in Canada. Collaboration with relevant government agencies was deemed essential to streamline immigration pathways and provide sustainable support.
- Risks of activism and transnational repression: This research underscored the unique risks faced by exiled activists and human rights defenders, necessitating tailored training for public safety institutions and the development of clear policies to safeguard fundamental freedoms and human rights.
- Recognition and capacity building: Improved integration within Canadian institutions, targeted training programs, and enhanced networking opportunities emerged as crucial elements for empowering exiled activists and human rights defenders and promoting col- laboration within the community.Outlined in the final section of this report, these research findings lead to a number of recom- mendations for policy and practice. In summary, to support exiled activists and human rights de- fenders in Canada, it is crucial to streamline immigration processes through legal assistance and prompt document acquisition, building on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s global human rights defenders stream. Networking opportunities should connect exiled activists with local communities for mutual support. A multi-stakeholder task force within Canada should be established to address transnational repression by enhancing digital security and legal protec- tions and advocate for public safety policy reforms. Capacity-building initiatives should focus on employment, mentorship, and training in political engagement and organizational resilience, and there is expressed value in establishing a secure, comprehensive platform to facilitate collabora- tion between and with exiled activists and human rights defenders. Establishing virtual communi- ties and peer support groups will also further strengthen solidarity and resilience.