Violation of the Rights of Women in the Refugee Context

This article is the text of a lecture reviewing the case law and policy developments in Canada aimed at protecting the rights of women refugees. The information reviewed provides a historical background on the issues facing women who claim refugee status in Canada. The article also examines specific developments concerning protection of women refugees both internationally and in Canada. The author has included examples from the case law, especially on the interpretation of the "particular social group" criterion. The procedural mechanisms of the Immigration and Refugee Board, which are adjusted to respond to the particular needs of female refugee claimants, are also discussed. [Descriptors: Migration - Refugees and Immigration, Canada]