Preface

• Author: Sasha Baglay/Martin Jones
• Pages: 19-22

xix

PR EFAC E

A. INT RODUCTION

This book is intended as an introductory guide to Canadian refugee

law and procedure for law students, legal practitioners, paralegals, and

NGO staff. While it is at times technical in its l anguage and procedural

descriptions, it can al so be used by those i nterested in refugee issues

more generally.

The book def‌ines “Canadian refugee law” fa irly broadly to include

not only the formal statutory and regulatory basis of the l aw but also

the various policies, processes, and practices that are used to deter-

mine refugee law issues. Fur thermore, the term is s een to include not

only protection of individuals who are Convention refugees but also

other categories of individuals who are in need of protection due to a

potential violation of their human rights abroad.

While Canadia n refugee law has emerged over the past severa l dec-

ades as an independent branch of law and di screte area of practice, in-

evitably it remains closely tied to immigration law and often requires

cross-referencing to immig ration law. Therefore, this book presents

refugee law as a system subject to that di scipline’s internal logic and

integrity, not a system of law that operates in is olation.

The principal objective of the book is to provide an accurate account

of the basic features of Canadian refugee law, policy, and procedure. It

is by no means exh austive. No single book can describe, discuss, and

resolve all of the details and nuances of the Canadian refugee system.