431-00023 (Foreign affairs)

The Government of Canada remains deeply concerned about the situation of forcibly displaced persons, and is actively contributing to international refugee responses, as well as working to improve the ways the international community works collectively to address these situations. With record-setting numbers of people worldwide forced from their homes, displacement is one of the most pressing global issues of our time.

Through Canada’s international humanitarian assistance, we are supporting United Nations (UN) agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide protection assistance to the forcibly displaced. For example, Canada has provided direct support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to work with national authorities, and other organizations to assist, protect and find solutions for refugees and internally-displaced persons.

In addition, Canada is actively engaged in international fora and processes focused on improving responses to refugee situations. Canada, alongside an overwhelming majority of UN member states, voted to endorse the Global Compact on Refugees, a document which aims to improve how the international community responds to immediate needs and fosters long-term solutions for refugees, and to improve the level of support for communities hosting large numbers of refugees.

Canada also played an active role in the process to develop the Global Compact on Migration (GCM) and worked closely and constructively with traditional and non-traditional partners to reach agreement on these important and complex issues. The successful negotiation of the GCM underscores the value of multilateral dialogue on critical global issues and the role the UN can play in supporting a rules-based international system.

Canada is strongly committed to diplomatic and peaceful solutions in fragile and conflict affected states (FCAS) that support stability. Canadian efforts have focused on enhancing peace and security, protecting human rights, promoting stability, and helping those most in need around the world. In August 2016, the Government of Canada established the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) to provide a whole-of-government platform for preventing, mitigating and resolving violent conflict, and crises abroad. Through PSOPs, Canada is working with allies and partners to prevent and respond to emerging and on-going situations of violent conflict and state fragility, and in a coordinated, whole-of-government manner.