Senator Mobina Jaffer2013-05-24T09:50:01-04:00Senator Mobina Jafferhttp://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/index.php?author=senator-mobina-jafferCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Senator Mobina JafferGood old fashioned elbow grease.Young Criminals Need TLC, Not Tough-On-Crimetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.17607592012-08-09T13:05:01-04:002012-10-09T05:12:04-04:00Senator Mobina Jafferhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/senator-mobina-jaffer/low murder and violent crime rates, particularly in comparison to our American counterparts. However, a recent rise in gun violence on the streets of Canada's largest city has left many Canadians concerned about how safe our communities truly are.
On June 2, 2012, a shooting in one of Canada's busiest shopping centres claimed the life of two individuals and left five others wounded. Just over a month later, tragedy struck again when a lone gunman opened fire at a neighbourhood block party, claiming the lives of another two individuals and injuring 20 others.
This recent series of events has led politicians and community leaders to engage in a number of debates regarding how best to deal with the issue of gun violence on our streets and in our communities. These debates have left many Canadians wondering whether we should advance tough-on-crime agendas that are centred around discipline and denunciation or whether investing in preventative solutions which are centred around rehabilitation and reintegration, would be a more effective path to follow.
As a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, I have recently studied Bill C-10: Safe Streets and Communities Act and I am quite familiar with tough-on-crime agendas that call for mandatory minimum sentencing and which adopt short term solutions to violence and crime in our communities. However, having worked with many vulnerable populations I firmly believe that our time and resources would be better spent in addressing the issue of youth violence by investing in long-term preventative solutions and programs.
Something that all of the recent instances of gun violence have had in common is that they involve young Canadians. It is very commonly believed that tough-on-crime solutions, which place young offenders in prison, force offenders to be held accountable for their actions. However, this belief relies on the assumption that young offenders understand the concept of accountability. Moreover, we must also remain mindful that prisons are often considered to be schools where individuals learn more about violence and crime. I am of the opinion that adopting tough-on-crime solutions which rely on placing young offenders in prison, will fail to keep our streets and communities safe, simply because these young people will learn more about crime while serving their sentences and will therefore be more likely to reoffend upon their release.
If we want to keep our streets and communities safer, we need to commit ourselves to getting to the very root of the problem. It is my belief that we should be investing our resources not in building big prisons but rather in rehabilitation and reintegration programs that will in turn help vulnerable populations such as our youth, the mentally ill, and minorities and keep them from reoffending in the future.
Let us all remember that takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to keep that child safe, and it takes a country to protect all of its citizens.]]>After Aurora, We Should Bring back the Long Gun Registrytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.17377282012-08-03T11:30:35-04:002012-10-03T05:12:02-04:00Senator Mobina Jafferhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/senator-mobina-jaffer/tragedy struck Aurora, Colorado leaving an entire nation overwhelmed with fear and sadness. During a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises a lone gunman equipped with multiple firearms entered a crowded theatre and opened fire, claiming the lives of 12 people and injuring 58 others.
The gunman who mercilessly opened fire in a crowded theatre in Colorado was operating a Smith & Wesson AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge Remington 870 shotgun and a .40-calibre Glock handgun, all of which he purchased legally in the United States.
In Canada, we pride ourselves on being a peaceful and non-violent nation. For decades, Canadians have recognized the importance of remaining vigilant about gun control. This was reflected in the adoption of a federal gun registry which not only ensured that all individuals who wished to own and operate firearms went through strict and thorough licensing process but also saw to it that all guns, long and short were registered in a database.
Established in 1995, in the wake of the 1989 École Polytechnique Massacre, the long gun registry was a valuable public safety tool which was utilized roughly 16,000 times each and every single day. However, earlier this year, with the passage of Bill C-19: An Act to Eliminate the Long Gun Registry, the Remington shotgun that was used in Aurora, is now considered to be an unrestricted firearm meaning that it would no longer have to be registered.
The passage of Bill C-19 not only resulted in the loss of an important public safety tool, it also represented a step toward adopting more lenient gun control laws in Canada. Having played an active role in establishing the long gun registry and having dedicated a great deal of time to defending its value, I was particularly dismayed when it was dismantled.
Tragedies like the one that shook Aurora are a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant about gun control. Handguns and long guns, both of which were used during this massacre, are equally dangerous and we as a society have a responsibility to do everything in our control to ensure that they stay off our streets.
My heart goes out to the families of the victims who lost their lives in Aurora, Colorado and my thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. As parents grieve the loss of their children, a husbands and wives grieve the loss of their spouses let us work together to help ensure that our streets remain safe and that gun violence does not plague our communities.]]>What Human Trafficking Has to do With the Olympicstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.17043212012-07-27T16:15:23-04:002012-09-26T05:12:33-04:00Senator Mobina Jafferhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/senator-mobina-jaffer/
This summer while people from all corners of the world will gather around their televisions cheering for their respective countries, hoping that their athletes will be decorated in gold, silver or bronze, many young women and girls on the streets of London will have little to celebrate.
Although the Olympic Games often bring a sense of unity, patriotism and heightened national pride, it also causes a rise in human sex trafficking as the market demand for sexual labour increases dramatically.
Approximately 2.5 million people are in forced labour as a result of being trafficked. The majority of the trafficking victims are between 18 and 24 years of age. Furthermore, 43 per cent of victims are used for forced commercial exploitation; 98 per cent of those victims are women and girls. In 2006, for every 800 people trafficked, only one person was convicted. Every year this trade generates upwards of 12-billion dollars.
"The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation."
In 2010, when Canada had the honour of hosting the Winter Olympic Games, I worked diligently alongside various organizations to help combat human trafficking on the streets of Vancouver. At this time I commended the British Government for the steps they were taking to help tackle human trafficking concerns and applauded them for appointing a police commissioner to deal exclusively with trafficking during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Although numerous precautions have been taken, the sad reality is that women and girls will still be sexually exploited on the streets of London.
Over the next few weeks, as we all come together and celebrate the Olympic Games let us not forget about those young girls who have little to celebrate. Let us ensure that our cheers do not silence their cries. Let us save a place in our hearts for those women and girls who are being exploited and robbed of their dignity.]]>A Year of Independence for South Sudan, a Long Way to Gotag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.16823882012-07-18T11:29:38-04:002012-09-17T05:12:07-04:00Senator Mobina Jafferhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/senator-mobina-jaffer/two million people and left an additional four million people homeless. The crisis that has ravaged Sudan has displaced millions of people, tearing apart families and entire communities thus making Sudan one of the most poor and least developed countries in the entire world.
In 2002 I was appointed as Canada's envoy to the peace process in Sudan. For four years I had the honour of travelling on behalf of Canadians to many parts of Sudan. I have the opportunity to travel both to the south and the north of Sudan where I witnessed first hand the impact war has had on the lives of the people living in these regions. At that time, Sudan had been at war for 50 years. In many parts in South Sudan, where the situation was particularly dire, the war had completely destroyed any semblance of governance. In addition, everything on the ground had been destroyed. There were no schools, no hospitals and no buildings to be found.
My experience working in Sudan forced me recognize the atrocities brought about as a result of violence and conflict and taught me the true meaning of war. It was here that I learned that war is seeing children whose stomachs are swollen and covered in loose, hanging skin. War is seeing a child's hair turn from black to blond as a result of malnutrition. War is feeling a sense of relief when hearing a child scream out and cry, knowing that silence is usually a sign of defeat.
On July 8, South Sudan celebrated its first year of independence. Although the independence of South Sudan marked the end of over five decades of conflict, the future of its citizens remains bleak. Individuals living in this country are still unable to access even the most basic of necessities including food, security, shelter and education. In fact, young women living in South Sudan are more likely to die during childbirth than to finish primary school, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world to have a baby.
Although, over the past year, South Sudan has indeed made some great strides much progress has yet to be made as the situation in this country remains volatile.
The sad reality is that there are many countries today that are plagued by violence and conflict. As Canadians, we are fortunate to be able to call one of the most peaceful countries in the world home. However, we must not allow ourselves to be distracted by the comforts that we are so fortunate to enjoy. We must continue to educate ourselves about the harsh realities of the world and we must respond to the cries of men, women and children who often are forced to suffer in solitude.
As South Sudan celebrates its first year of independence let us all reflect on the challenges that people living in this region are still consistently confronted with. Let us come together and find ways to help ensure that the men, women and children who call South Sudan home, one day enjoy the same freedoms that we so often take for granted.]]>Above All, Bill C-31 Hurts Childrentag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.16379922012-06-29T16:54:54-04:002012-08-29T05:12:05-04:00Senator Mobina Jafferhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/senator-mobina-jaffer/Bill C-31: Protecting Canada's Immigration Act was cleared through the Senate by a vote of 52-33, leaving a stain on our country's immigration and refugee protection system, a system that we as Canadians could once be proud of.
With the passage of this bill, several principles which have defined us as Canadians for decades have now been compromised. Principles of justice, compassion, and tolerance that are all integral components of the Canadian identity have been overlooked and our world's most vulnerable populations will now have to pay the price.
When my family and I sought refuge in Canada 40 years ago we were consumed with feelings of desperation and fear. Although we were uncertain about what the future had in store, as a mother my primary concern was always for my son. Although my heart goes out to all refugees, as I can identify with their hardships, as a mother my sole concern is always for the children whose lives get turned upside down as a result of political, cultural and religious turmoil that they are often too young to understand.
During the Senate's study of Bill C-31 I drew attention to the way this bill unfairly targeted children, violating not only our constitution but also our international obligations.
For example, Bill C-31 gives the minister the power to impose penalties on designated foreign nationals who arrive as a group, such as mandatory unreviewable detention for six months, which would place 16- and 17-year-old children in jail-like detention centers. In addition, there will be a five year prohibition on applying for permanent resident status, even if a person has succeeded in becoming a convention refugee, leaving them with no possibility of reuniting with family for at least five years.
This is contrary to section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees the right to life, liberty and security as well as section 10 which states that an individual is guaranteed the right to prompt review of detention and section 9 which guarantees an individual the right not to be arbitrarily detained.
Furthermore, Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and has made a commitment to always ensure that civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights are protected. Under this convention a child is considered to be any individual who is under the age of 18.
Bill C-31 violates Article 37 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states:
No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time...
These are not optional requirements. These are obligations to which Canada has committed under the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world. These are requirements set out by our very own constitution. This is not a debate about public spending or about ideological preference. This is about protecting the world's most vulnerable population: our children.
I am deeply saddened to report that the amendments I introduced in the Senate that set out to ensure that 16 and 17 year old children were not placed in jail-like detention centers were not adopted by my colleagues in upper chamber.
The passage of Bill C-31 marked another sad day for Canadians. The Senate of Canada has been given the mandate to protect the interests of provinces, regions and minorities as well as to provide a sober second thought. Unfortunately, as Bill C-31 has gone on to receive royal assent and become law, it has become clear that we have failed to do just this.]]>Canada Under Bill C-31 Is Not the Place I Found Refugetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.16022742012-06-19T08:16:05-04:002012-08-19T05:12:08-04:00Senator Mobina Jafferhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/senator-mobina-jaffer/
Having once been a refugee, my greatest fear is that one day Canadians, as fair-minded as they may be, will close their doors to other refugees if they feel that their refugee system is being abused. Therefore, I will be the first one to state that there must be a fair, consistent, efficient immigration and refugee system in our country. However, I do not believe that Bill C-31: Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act, is the answer. Not only is this bill unconstitutional and inconsistent with Canada's international obligations, it will change the face of Canada as we know it.
Having successfully made it's way through the House of Commons, Bill C-31 is now in the Senate where it will be studied and debated. As the critic of this bill, I had the opportunity to address my colleagues at the second reading of Bill C-31 earlier this week where I shed light on a few of the many controversial and unjust provisions of this legislation. It was here that I set out to explain the impact the passage of this bill would have on our country, and the threat that that it would certainly pose to core Canadian values such as justice, compassion and acceptance.
For example:
A vote to pass Bill C-31 would be a vote to create a two-tiered refugee system, one that does not provide all refugee claimants with a fair hearing based on the facts of the individual cases, and one that discriminates against refugees based on their country of origin.
A vote to pass Bill C-31 would be a vote in favour of treating refugees who have been victims of torture, abuse, persecution and gender-based violence as criminals, rather than as victims.
A vote to pass Bill C-31 would be a vote to pass a piece of legislation that directly violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and directly contradicts a number of Canada's international obligations.
A vote to pass Bill C-31 would be a vote in favour of denying the most basic essential healthcare to refugees, even to pregnant women who require natal care.
Finally, a vote to pass Bill C-31 would be a vote in favour of sending 16 and 17-year-old children -- who have come to our country desperately seeking refuge -- to jail-like detention centers for a minimum of six months.
This is not the Canada that I know. This is not the Canada that 40 years ago welcomed my family when we desperately sought refuge. We as Canadians must preserve the justness and integrity of our immigration system. However, we must do this while staying true to principles of acceptance, tolerance, compassion and fairness; principles that make us all proud to say we are Canadian.]]>Time to Apologize for Komagata Marutag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.15279102012-05-18T17:03:53-04:002012-07-18T05:12:06-04:00Senator Mobina Jafferhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/senator-mobina-jaffer/Komagata Maru, a ship carrying 376 people of South Asian decent, sailed from Japan to the shores of British Columbia. Unfortunately, after spending over a month at sea, the 12 Hindus, 24 Muslims and 340 Sikhs, all of whom were eager to start a new life, were denied entry into Canada.
NDP MP Jasbir Sandhu's motion today urged the Government of Canada to officially apologize in Parliament to the South Asian community and to the individuals impacted by the 1914 Komagata Maru incident in the House of Commons.
For two long months all 376 passengers were forced to stay on board the ship. Not only was it made clear that their presence in our country was unwelcome, Canadian officials also denied passengers very basic necessities such as food and water. For 63 days all of those on board the Komagatu Maru lived in extremely confined spaces fighting hunger and dehydration.
They waited patiently clinging to the hope that perhaps they would be granted entrance into Canada, a country which they believed would provide them with opportunity and a new beginning. Unfortunately, after spending over two months on Canadian waters, the Komagata Maru, and almost all of those on board were forced to depart and return to Asia.
The Komagata Maru incident occurred during a time in Canadian history where there was a deep-seated prejudice against minorities and immigrants, particularly those who were of South Asian descent. Unfortunately, these prejudices were supported by law for during this time there existed a Continuous Passage Act, which stated that South Asians were only allowed to enter into Canada if they had made a continuous voyage without any stopovers.
This particular clause was implemented in an attempt to stop South Asian immigrants from entering Canada for at this time it was not possible for a ship to travel continuously from India to Canada. Although those on board did abide by this law by departing directly from Japan to Canada without stopping over, the fact that they were still denied entry is a reflection of the racist and discriminatory attitudes that were prevalent at this time.
On August 3, 2008 Prime Minister Harper apologized to the South Asian community about the Komagata Maru incident. However the fact that this apology was not delivered in the House of Commons is unacceptable.
I commend Sandhu for introducing this motion and I applaud his commitment to this extremely important issue. Having worked closely with the South Asian community residing in my province of British Columbia, I am well aware of the hurt and pain that was perpetuated by the Komagata Maru incident.
This is why on June 21, 2011 I introduced the very same motion in the Senate of Canada, stating:
"Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move that the Government of Canada officially apologize in Parliament to the South Asian community and to the individuals impacted in the 1914 Komagata Maru incident."
Historically, the government has extended official apologies in Parliament to acknowledge injustice and wrongdoing. For example, in June of 2010, Prime Minister Harper delivered an official apology to those Aboriginal people who were victims of the Canadian residential school system. Similarly, in 2006, Prime Minister Harper delivered an official apology to those Chinese-Canadian's who were unfairly taxed when immigrating to Canada.
Both of these apologies were extended in a very respectful manner. Both of these apologies recognized the pain, suffering and injustice that was inflicted upon these communities. The 376 passengers on board the Komagata Maru as well as all of those people who were negatively affected by the racist and discriminatory immigration policies that existed at this time also deserve an official apology.
The Canada I know is a country that embraces multiculturalism and welcomes people from all walks of life. The Canada I know prides itself on treating people of all races, religions and creeds with fairness, respect and dignity. Although the Komagata Maru incident happened almost a century ago, it represents a very sad time in our country's history.
I have heard from over 10,000 of my constituents in British Columbia, who have all expressed to me that they would like to be given the same respect that has been extended to other groups and receive an apology in Parliament. It is my sincere hope that we will continue debating this important issue both in the Senate and in the House of Commons, and urge our Government to do the right thing and deliver an apology to the South Asian community and to all of those affected by the 1914 Komagata Maru incident.]]>Victims of Cyberbullying, Government's Got Your Backtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.14643392012-04-30T10:18:15-04:002012-06-30T05:12:02-04:00Senator Mobina Jafferhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/senator-mobina-jaffer/
Cyberbullying, as defined by the Montreal police, is the posting of threatening, offensive or degrading messages about someone using words or images; it also includes harassment. Cyberbullying takes place through emails, in chat rooms, discussion groups, websites and through instant messaging.
Recent studies have indicated that 25 per cent of young net surfers say they have received hate messages about other people by email. Thirty-four per cent of nine to seventeen year olds say that they have been victims of bullying during the school year. Of these, 27 per cent were victims of cyberbullying. In fact, it has been estimated that Canadian high schools experience 282,000 incidents of bullying every month.
On November 30, 2011, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights was given the mandate to examine and report upon the issue of cyberbullying in Canada with regard to Canada's human rights obligations under Article 19 of the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child. This week the human rights committee will be continuing its study on cyberbullying and will have the pleasure of hearing from professors, the Media Awareness Network, as well as representatives from the Stop A Bully organization.
Although the committee will be welcoming the expertise of professionals who work on the issue of cyberbullying, our study would simply be incomplete without taking into consideration the voices of the very children whom continue to fall victim to this form of abuse. The committee intends to give young people a voice and listen and learn from their experiences by reaching out to them through the social media platforms that they so often frequent, namely Twitter and Facebook.
Without protection and assistance, many children who are victims of cyberbullying are left to face these new challenges alone. The Senate Human Rights Committee intends to study ways in which we can both protect and assist our children by examining potential solutions and raising awareness about this important issue.]]>