Gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus)

A review of Chairperson’s Guideline 3: Child Refugee Claimants: Procedural and Evidentiary Issues ​and Chairperson’s Guideline 8: Procedures with Respect to Vulnerable Persons Appearing Before the IRB, began in 2021–22 and will continue into 2023–24. The review of these Guidelines seeks to modernize guidance on the adjudication of proceedings at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB or the Board) involving minors and individuals designated by the Board as vulnerable persons for reasons including gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics, as well as age, and mental or physical disabilities. The guideline reviews will be carried out in alignment with the IRB’s policy statement on GBA Plus.

In its case management system, the IRB records a limited amount of information including gender, age, and country of origin on persons appearing before its four divisions. Recording this information allows the Board to analyze its client base in a gender disaggregated and age stratified way.

The IRB is working towards more systematically collecting information on decision‑makers' consideration of its Chairperson's Guidelines.

As confirmed through the Board's Gender-based Analysis Plus policy statement, the IRB is committed to GBA Plus. The Board will continue to identify needs and gaps across the organization, in line with its capacity and mandate. The goal is to become more inclusive and to reduce systemic bias by understanding the diverse needs of all employees, including decision‑makers, and people appearing before the Board, regardless of sex, gender, or identity.