Since April 2023, the current counter-revolutionary war in Sudan has led to the displacement of 30% of the country’s population and the worst refugee crisis of our time. The ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, fueled by internal power struggles and external interests in the control of gold and other natural resources, has largely been met with silence and inaction from the international community.
The Canadian immigration system has responded with measures that allow Sudanese nationals in Canada to extend their temporary stay as well as introducing a process for family members to be reunited with their loved ones. Since the announcement of these measures, however, there have been many calls for further action from groups like the Sudan Solidarity Collective for Canada to respond to the urgency and severity of this ongoing crisis by opening pathways that remove strict limits and conditions of the program, including financial requirements, family connections, and more. In this effort, we must take into the consideration the particular experiences of vulnerable minorities, such as the LGBTQIA+ population - both in advocating for a stop to the violence in Sudan, and ensuring that we welcome Sudanese with the correct support and solidarity.
At Positive Spaces Initiative, we want to explore the queer perspective on the current war, displacement crisis, and barriers to immigration pathways.
On December 5th, OCASI PSI will host two Sudanese LGBTQ+ activists who advocate for women, LGBTQ+, and gender-diverse Sudanese communities, to share their experiences and calls to action. Together, we will discuss the above questions as well as possible actions those in the settlement sector in Ontario can take to advocate for Sudanese communities.