REFUGEE FORUM: REALITIES AT THE BORDER AND NEW GUIDELINES ON SOGIE
September 28th, 2017
160 Jarvis St. Toronto (The Salvation Army Harbour Light)
REGISTRATION: https://refugeeforumseptember28.eventbrite.ca

9:30 am to 10:00 am REGISTRATION

10:00 am to 10:10 am Welcoming and Opening Refugee Forum

10:10 am to 12:30 pm
First Panel: REALITIES AT THE BORDER AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
Morning panel will look at what is happening in Quebec at the border, how it is impacting vulnerable communities and what we are seeing in Toronto as a result. Lawyers will talk about the situation in Quebec and how it is impacting the community in Toronto.
Speakers: Andrew Bouwer, Senior Counsel, Refugee Law, Legal Aid Ontario; Aviva Basman, lawyer at LAO’s Refugee Law Office in Toronto

12:30 pm 1:15 pm Lunch time

1:15 pm to 3:00 pm
NEW GUIDELINES ON ROCEEDINGS INVOLVING SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION

Afternoon Panel: Explanation of the guidelines involving sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) and their impact on the community. Representatives of the Immigration and Refugee Board will talk about the purpose of SOGIE Guideline, how the Guideline applies to the IRB divisions and their impact in our community.
Speakers: John Hutchins, Legal Counsel, Central Region, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada; Swathi Sekhar, Barrister & Solicitor

3:00 pm to 3:30 Closing