WHAT IS THE COMPOSITION OF THE HUMANITARIAN PROGRAM?
Since 1991 the Refugee and Special Humanitarian Program has been divided into three components, each of which performs a particular function. The three components are: i. the Refugee Program: this component covers people classified as refugees under the terms of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol (and in many cases identified by UNHCR as requiring resettlement) who are granted Class 200 Visas, as well as In-country Rescue Cases (Class 201 Visas) and Women at Risk (Class 204 Visas). These people are arguably the most vulnerable amongst the caseload because they have been identified as having serious, and in some cases immediate protection needs ii. the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP): people who are outside their country of origin and have been identified as having experienced, or fear, gross discrimination amounting to a substantial violation of their human rights may be granted a Class 202 Visa. People entering under this program have to ha
