Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Working Group (SOGI)

SOGI was formed to address the persecution faced by sexual minorities around the world. This fall, we launched the "Refugee Law Project." Students partner with Toronto lawyers, providing them with research and support for urgent refugee files. It has only been one month since this project has been operational, but the response of the refugee bar has been overwhelmingly positive. In this short time span, SOGI volunteers have completed research on five refugee cases that will be heard before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) this semester.
These files include:

• Research on state and police corruption and homophobia in Mexico for a lesbian fleeing a violent ex-lover;

• Research on country conditions relevant to a gay refugee-claimant from Uruguay;

• Research for a gay man fleeing religious, societal and family persecution in Pakistan;

• Research for a lesbian escaping from her violent ex-husband in Jamaica;

• Research on country conditions for lesbians in Brazil for a refugee claimant from there.

Volunteers are also working on two different legal questions for judicial review of negative IRB decisions to Federal Court.

SOGI was hopeful when we launched the Refugee Law Project that we would be able to benefit Toronto's sexual minority refugee community. The fact that we have received seven requests in only four weeks highlights a real need for supportive research. It is our hope that this research encourages lawyers to take on more cases of this kind and ultimately helps more individuals suffering persecution find safe refuge in Canada.