441-00797 (Foreign affairs)

The Government of Canada takes the protection and promotion of human rights seriously and is deeply concerned with the discrimination and violence that has affected Sikhs, Hindus and other religious and ethnic communities in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn the attacks against these communities and offer our condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.

The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to resettling at least 40,000 Afghan refugees by the end of 2023. Our commitment to resettle vulnerable Afghan nationals to Canada is being fulfilled through several programs, including a humanitarian program focused on resettling women, LGBTQ2 people, human rights defenders, journalists and members of religious and ethnic minorities. As of October 19, 2022, Canada has welcomed 22,915 vulnerable Afghans to Canada.

Resettling refugees is a proud part of Canada’s humanitarian tradition. It demonstrates to the world that Canada has a shared responsibility to help those who are displaced, persecuted and most in need of protection. As with previous large-scale resettlement efforts, we welcome the support of the many Canadians who want to lend a helping hand. The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program is one of the oldest and best known resettlement programs in the world.

Through this program, we’re expanding our partnership with the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation (MSBF), a sponsorship agreement holder, to resettle hundreds of persecuted Afghan Sikhs and Hindus. In partnership with MSBF, we also created a dedicated public policy to resettle vulnerable members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities on August 6, 2021. As part of a further measure to leverage the goodwill of Canadians and bring vulnerable Afghans to Canada, on October 17, 2022, Canada put in place a temporary public policy to facilitate the sponsorship of up to3,000 privately sponsored Afghan refugees by Groups of Five and Community Sponsors, which waives the Refugee Status Determination requirement for Afghan refugees outside of Afghanistan. We received a significant number of requests, which once again demonstrates the willingness of Canadians to contribute to our resettlement efforts. Groups of Five and Community Sponsors can continue supporting refugees through other methods of private sponsorship, such as our regular PSR program that continues to be available. More information on how to sponsor a refugee can be found on our website at Sponsor a refugee - Canada.ca

We are working with our partners, both internationally and within the Government of Canada, to find comprehensive solutions, as we know many persecuted minorities remain in Afghanistan. There are operational challenges due to the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan, which compromise our ability to ensure the safety and security of our mission. Support for religious freedoms both at home and abroad remains a priority for the Government of Canada, and we will continue to facilitate refugee resettlement and honour our international humanitarian commitments.

All key statistics, updated regularly, may be found on the departmental website at #WelcomeAfghans: Key figures - Canada.ca

The Department’s public policies may be consulted on the Departmental website at Public policies - Canada.ca

Respect for human rights is fundamental to the development of more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous societies. Consequently, the promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Canada’s foreign policy and bilateral engagement.

Freedom of religion or belief, including the ability to worship in peace and security, is a universal human right. People must be able to practise their religion without fearing for their lives and safety. This is why Canada consistently advocates for the rights of ethnic and religious minorities around the world including in Afghanistan, through both bilateral and multilateral forums. It is also why Canada established the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2015 to encourage and deepen coordination between like-minded countries to promote and protect freedom of religion or belief.

Over the past four decades of conflict, Hazaras, Sikhs, Hindus, and other religious and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan have been persecuted and victims of targeted violence. Canada strongly condemns all terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and offers its heartfelt sympathy to all the victims and their families, including the June 19, 2022 attack by Islamic State-Khorasan Province on a Sikh temple in Kabul.

The promotion and protection of human rights lies at the heart of Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan. Over the last two decades, Canada’s development and security support in Afghanistan has helped promote respect for diversity and improve the safety of ethnic minority groups. Canada has repeatedly expressed its concerns about the situation of ethnic and religious minorities, called for the full inclusion of all Afghans into every aspect of society, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender, and publicly denounced attacks against Afghan Hazaras, Sikhs, and Hindus.

Alongside its international allies, Canada continues to call on the de facto Taliban authorities to respect Afghanistan’s international obligations, including forming an inclusive and representative government and protecting the fundamental rights of all Afghans. Moving forward, Canada will continue to work closely with trusted Afghan partners on the ground and international partners to bring attention to the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan and to advocate for the meaningful inclusion of marginalized groups, including Hazaras, Sikhs and Hindus. To this end, Canada welcomes the UN Security Council’s decision to establish a strong human rights mandate for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) during UNAMA’s most recent mandate renewal, as well as the appointment of Richard Bennett as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan on April 1, 2022. Canada has no intention of recognizing the Taliban de facto authorities as the Government of Afghanistan.

Canada is also committed to supporting the needs of the most vulnerable Afghans. In 2022, Canada has allocated $143 million in humanitarian assistance to respond to the needs of vulnerable Afghan populations in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. Canada continues to respond through experienced humanitarian partners, such as United Nations agencies, both inside Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries, to address the needs of the most vulnerable. For example, with Canadian support, humanitarian partners provided food and livelihoods support to 21.7 million people in need and acute malnutrition support to 5.2 million children and pregnant and lactating women between January and September 2022.

Canada has committed to resettling at least 40,000 Afghan nationals, including vulnerable Afghan Hazaras, Sikhs, Hindus, and their families, which remains one of the largest commitments in the world. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is working closely with Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation, a Sponsorship Agreement Holder, to identify and welcome these vulnerable Afghan Sikhs and Hindus and their families.  At a meeting with the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation in July 2022 in Calgary, the Government of Canada expressed its continued appreciation for the Foundation's work in resettling Afghan Sikhs and Hindus and continuing its legacy to help the most vulnerable.