Update

Pursuant to s. 65(3) of the Immigration Act, the Chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada ( IRB) had issued three sets of Guidelines to assist members of the Convention Refugee Determination Division in carrying out their duties. The three sets of Guidelines were:

• Guidelines concerning Women Refugee Claimants Fearing Gender-Related Persecution(November 13, 1996)
• Guidelines concerning Child Refugee Claimants: Procedural and Evidentiary Issues(September 30, 1996)
• Guidelines concerning Civilian Non-Combatants Fearing Persecution in Civil War Situations(March 7, 1996)

As a result of the coming into force of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act ( IRPA) on June 28, 2002, the Chairperson made the above-mentioned Guidelines under the statutory authority found in s. 159(1)(h) of IRPA and the three sets of the Guidelines are continued in effect.

At this time, these Guidelines have not been updated to reflect the changes affecting the Refugee Protection Division, such as the consolidated grounds. The IRB will be reviewing the situation and determining if there is a need to update them in light of IRPA.