Canadian Charity using an 'underground railroad' to help victims escape
TORONTO, Sept. 1, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, Rainbow Railroad announced it helped 35 LGBTQ individuals escape the Chechen government's program of terror and torture – 31 of whom have now arrived in Canada.
"Many are fearful of publically speaking about their ordeal, even now that they're here," says Kimahli Powell, Executive Director of Rainbow Railroad. "However, some are willing to speak because they want the world to better understand just how horrific and dire the situation is in Chechnya."
Since April, when reports first emerged about government forces abducting, torturing and murdering gay men in Chechnya, Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian non-profit human rights organization, called on the Canadian government to facilitate entry of persecuted Chechens into Canada, ensure adequate resettlement resources, and to model this policy for LGBTQ asylum seekers in other countries.
Working with the Russian LGBT Network, who established safe houses in Russia, Rainbow Railroad led the evacuation efforts. Powell travelled to the region to meet directly with survivors, while also establishing a partnership with the Canadian government. So far, nearly 70 individuals have fled Chechnya to Russian safe houses, and over 40 have left Russia.
"We were able to quickly intervene and receive a response from the Canadian government because we are one of the few -- if only -- major international organizations focused on moving LGBTQ people out of immediate danger to safety," says Powell.
Rainbow Railroad has helped over 140 individuals to safety so far in 2017. However, other than the Chechen refugees, very few came to Canada. Powell says this underscores the need for Canada to develop a robust LGBTQ asylum policy to facilitate resettlement in Canada.
Powell is quick to add that this does not amount to prioritizing one group of asylum-seekers over another.
"Seeking asylum is not a way of jumping the queue," he says. "It's about responding when a person's right to protection is removed by the state or anyone else, as is the case in Chechnya for LGBTQ people right now."
According to the Refugee Council of Australia, resettlement is offered only by a few countries, and there are very few places for resettlement – less than 1% of the world's refugees are resettled every year. While resettlement remains an essential solution for some refugees, returning home once conditions improve is the most desirable solution.
Unfortunately, this is not an option for many LGBTQ refugees. According to the 2017 International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association's (ILGA) State Sponsored Homophobia report, 72 countries still criminalize homosexuality. The death penalty may be applied in eight UN member states.
"The situation in Chechnya is part of a global pattern of ongoing state-enabled or state-sanctioned violence against LGBTQ people," Powell says, citing Indonesia, Bangladesh and Kenya as three recent examples. "This is why the number of people who reach out to us each year is growing and we should do more to ensure persecuted LGBTQ people can enter safe countries like Canada."
About Rainbow Railroad
Rainbow Railroad is a volunteer-based charitable organization that assists LGBTQ people seeking safe haven from state-enabled violence, persecution and the threat of death where homosexuality is criminalized. We provide information, connections, and funding for travel and other associated costs.To get on board with Rainbow Railroad and help save LGBT lives, visit www.RainbowRailroad.ca or go to Facebook.com/RainbowRailroad.
SOURCE Rainbow Railroad
about Rainbow Railroad, please contact: Will Lamont: 647-382-7882; Dale Sturges: 416-534-3062; [email protected]
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