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BACKGROUNDER
Annual War Crimes Report 2002-2003
Canada's War Crimes Program is a joint initiative of the Department
of Justice Canada, the Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police (RCMP). It supports Canada's efforts in denying safe haven to
war criminals and perpetrators of crimes against humanity. Since its creation
in 1998, the War Crimes Program has issued an annual report of its activities.
Canada uses a variety of remedies in dealing with war criminals including;
extradition; prosecution in Canada under the Crimes Against Humanity and War
Crimes Act surrender to an international tribunal; revocation of citizenship
and deportation; denial of visas to people abroad; denial of access to our refugee
determination system; and removal from Canada.
Fiscal year 2002-2003 brought several changes and enhancements to how the War
Crimes Program operates including:
- The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which came into effect
on June 28, 2002 improved and strengthened immigration and refugee measures
by allowing fewer appeals and opportunities for judicial review, which delay
the removal of serious criminals and suspension of refugee claims for people
charged with serious crimes until the courts have rendered a decision. At
the same time, the IRPA ensures that genuine immigrants and refugees are admitted
to Canada.
- Canada had ratified both the International Criminal Court Statute and the
protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of
Children in Armed Conflict, which came into effect on July 1, 2002.
- In 2002, Citizenship and Immigration formed an Intelligence Branch to bring
a more focused approach in dealing with security issues, including modern
war criminals. This Branch is now with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
- CBSA's Modern War Crimes Unit has enhanced the efficiency of screening of
visitor and immigration cases.
- The creation of CBSA's Modern War Crimes System database to support the
sharing of information both in Canada and abroad on modern war crimes issues.
- The Department of Justice's War Crimes Section organized the Combating International
Crimes Domestically conference where participants from Canada and around the
globe discussed shared challenges in investigating and prosecuting war crimes
cases.
- The Department of Justice's War Crimes Section continued to build a body
of expertise to support both WWII and modern investigations and litigation.
- The War Crimes Program is currently developing a new War Crimes Program
Website, which will feature information about the program, its partners, and
the law. The program has also created a contact e-mail address at wc-cdg@justice.gc.ca.
The following are highlights of fiscal year 2002-2003 activities.
Modern War Criminals
| Prevention Overseas |
2002-03
|
Total number of cases investigated
|
2,103
|
| Number denied Entry to Canada |
355
|
| In Canada |
|
| Immigration |
|
| Number of Immigration cases investigated |
151
|
| Number of persons found to be involved in war
crimes or crimes against humanity |
15
|
| Refugees |
|
| Number of cases investigated |
152
|
| Number of interventions filed by CIC before the Refugee Protection
Division |
242
|
| Number excluded from the Refugee Determination
Process |
73
|
| Removals |
|
| Number of removal orders issued |
25
|
| Number of removal orders enforced |
48
|
| Number of removal orders that remain to be effected |
183
|
| Arrest Warrants |
|
| New warrants issued |
21
|
| Number executed |
5
|
| Number of warrants that remain to be executed |
75
|
| Revocation of Citizenship |
| References before the Federal Court |
1 Seifert |
| Awaiting decisions from the Federal Court |
2 Obodzinsky, Fast |
Decisions made by the Court in favour of the Government
of Canada
|
6 Bogutin, Katriuk, Kisluk, Oberlander, Odynsky,
Baumgartner |
| Deportation |
| Before the Adjudication Division, Immigration and Refugee
Board |
1 Oberlander |
| WWII Cases Concluded |
| Removed or left voluntarily |
2 Csatary, Maciukas |
| Defendants that have been successful cases before
the Federal Court of Canada |
3 Dueck, Podins, Vitols |
Deceased during proceeding
|
6 Kenstavicius, Tobiass, Nemsila, Bogutin, Nebel, Kisluk |
May 2004
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