October 25 2023 - October 27 2023

2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON THE LAW OF BORDERS

HONORARY CHAIR: The Honourable Justice Mahmud Jamal, Supreme Court of Canada KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Her Excellency Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine, Canada CIAJ’s 47th Annual Conference will explore current issues related to the law of borders. It will open the door to discussion and challenge the definition of what a “border” is, including the very notion of national borders, considering indigenous perspectives. For many people, moving across borders implies facing vulnerability and precarity. How can we provide better protection to migrants and refugees, extending our vision beyond individuals to include families? In a world experiencing the effects of climate change, is our legal definition of a refugee still accurate? Furthermore, economic frontiers are becoming increasingly blurred. In such a context, it is also important to address work issues from the perspective of the adequacy of protections available to migrant workers, the implications of working remotely across territories, and the challenges of studying abroad, and to join forces in creating a more just and inclusive world.

Number of Participants: 27

Overview

HONORARY CHAIR: The Honourable Justice Mahmud Jamal, Supreme Court of Canada KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Her Excellency Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine, Canada CIAJ’s 47th Annual  Conference will explore current issues related to the law of borders. It will open the door to discussion  and challenge the definition of what a “border” is, including the very notion of national borders,  considering indigenous perspectives. For many people, moving across borders implies facing  vulnerability and precarity. How can we provide better protection to migrants and refugees, extending  our vision beyond individuals to include families? In a world experiencing the effects of climate change,  is our legal definition of a refugee still accurate? Furthermore, economic frontiers are becoming  increasingly blurred. In such a context, it is also important to address work issues from the perspective  of the adequacy of protections available to migrant workers, the implications of working remotely  across territories, and the challenges of studying abroad, and to join forces in creating a more just and  inclusive world. 

Objectives

Members of the judiciary will benefit from this conference by learning and understanding  the challenges facing vulnerable populations moving across the borders in Canada and abroad.  Participants will be made aware of possible solutions and how they can contribute to improving the  current situation. Other actors will benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to one of the most complex  sets of issues facing the justice system in Canada. 
The conference will give the opportunity to the Canadian judiciary to reflect on greater access to justice  in Canada and other jurisdictions. Research papers and reports will be developed and presented at the  conference to inform participants of trends and directions on this issue.