CAMPAIGN 31 WEEK 10

A Tale of Protection: Oscar

A man denied his pride by Bill C-31

Mr. Gomez fled Mexico because his former lover, a police officer working with organized crime, beat, harassed, and threatened him, because didnt accept that Mr. Gomez had ended their relationship. Mr. Gomez was also victim of gang rape to punish and intimidate him and to ensure he wouldnt talk. Even if some laws are in place to mitigate discrimination against sexual minorities in a country, longstanding mentalities and behaviours are always slow to change. A recent poll indicated that 74.6% of LGBT people had experienced physical violence, and that 48.4% of Mexicans wouldnt have a gay person as a neighbour. Furthermore, the police persecute and victimize the LGBT community: 30% of sexual minorities have suffered discrimination at the hands of police officers, and 20% have been physically assaulted by authorities, like Mr. Gomez was. The obstruction of justice and the generalized impunity that reigns in Mexico, a phenomenon recognized by human rights organizations, is illustrated by the number of people assassinated every year due to their sexual orientation and gender identity. These abuses are nevertheless not officially reported by the government of Mexico.

that his pleas for help would fall on deaf ears, or worse, instead of being granted protection, he would be subjected to more violence. When the threats and aggression continued, and began to target his close circle of friends, he finally resolved to submit a complaint to the authorities. Mr. Gomez was clearly told that it was not going to be received because his aggressor was a police officer.

With Bill C-31, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration & Multiculturalism will implement a different process for refugees who flee from countries he will have the sole discretion to identify as Designated Countries of Origin (DCOs). According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, refugees do not generally come from these safe countries that respect human rights and offer state protection. Are the number of refugees from a given state and its status as a democracy solid indicators to establish if a country is safe everywhere, at all times, for all inhabitants? Mr. Oscar Gomezs story tells us how his country, a democratic state with an independent judicial system (on paper), and the existence of civil organizations (two criteria to establish a designated country of origin) is not a safe place for lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgendered people (LGBT).

Oscar has good reasons to fear for his life if he were to return to Mexico. His aggressor can easily have him assassinated for the petty sum of 50 dollars, in full impunity, said Mr. Gomezs lawyer.

Because the Mexican police are well-known for homophobia, Mr. Gomez feared

Despite evidence that clearly demonstrates the danger Mr. Oscar Gomez faces if returned to Mexico, Canada has decided to deport him and maintains a false and unjustifiable opinion that Mexico can protect its citizens an opinion that is mirrored in many other countries around the world. The criteria to put these countries on the DCO list would fail to take into consideration the claims coming from sexual minorities. Even after a visa was imposed on Mexicans in 2009, Mexico still remains the number one country where LGBT people who seek asylum in Canada originate from.