Director's Message

Welcome to the website of the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University! The Centre is a hub for researchers, students, service providers and policy makers concerned about refugee and forced migration issues. We have ties to researchers and research centres around the world. We produce Refuge, a leading journal on research on refugee issues. During the fall and winter semesters, we have weekly seminars and our large resource centre is available at selected times during the week. We offer a week long intensive summer school and in August 2005 will be hosting the Sudan Studies Association annual conference. For York students, we offer certificate and diploma programs in refugee studies at the undergraduate and graduate level. We warmly welcome visiting scholars. 

With the support of a SSHRC research cluster grant, we are currently engaged in discussions with academic and community colleagues with the goal to establish Canada as the pre-eminent global leader in standard setting and implementation in research, practice and policy on refugee issues and the field of forced migration. The participants agree upon the need for inclusive, participatory, and comparative research on the experiences of the admission and settlement of refugees in Canada and the causes and experiences of forced migration globally.

The cross-sectoral consultation process has generated a long list of research issues and proposals which will inform the work of the Centre and a vibrant network of researchers and practitioners from across Canada with links to colleagues around the world. The research agenda will guide our efforts to achieve our mandate of informing public discussion as well as policy development and practice innovation by international, governmental, advocacy and service organizations. The implementation of the research agenda will also inform the teaching of refugee and migration studies.  

The work of the Centre is supported by skilled staff and a committed membership of York faculty, graduate students, research associates and visiting scholars. It is their involvement and enthusiasm that powers the Centre. In spite of resource challenges, important work continues to be done and new initiatives continue to be developed. It is a challenging time to be working in refugee and forced migration studies. Civil conflicts and natural disasters continue to create large numbers of refugees seeking safety. These refugees are facing ever more unwelcoming and even hostile receptions from the countries they are fleeing to. Post 9/11 security measures including interdiction are further restricting the movement of refugees and raising concerns about “warehousing”. Through its interdisciplinary strengths and diverse perspectives, CRS is positioned to advance our knowledge about refugees, their experiences and impacts, and the processes of forced migration.  Research can provide evidence of what is being done well and can influence public policy, public perception and support for change.

Susan McGrath, Director