Photo courtesy of Tracey Maulfair.
UNHCR Canada is excited to welcome Tracey Maulfair as its new Representative in Canada. With more than two decades of experience within the organization working in multiple countries, she brings a deep commitment to refugee protection and human rights to her new role.
Your career has been dedicated to protecting the rights of people forced to flee. What drives your passion for this cause? Why is this important to you?
The refugees themselves are what motivates me to continue this work, people who have been forced to flee their countries, often with nothing but the clothes on their backs, to start over in a new country. The incredible resilience of the refugees, learning new customs, languages and laws adapting and increasingly thriving as productive members of their new society. I feel both admiration for and inspiration from refugees.
As the number of people forced to flee continues to climb due to ongoing wars and violence, global funding has been severely cut. How is this having an impact on UNHCR’s work?
On March 20, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said it bluntly: “Brutal funding cuts in the humanitarian sector are putting millions of lives at risk. … Slashing aid will make the world less safe, driving more desperate people to become refugees or keep moving onwards.”
Right now, many UN agencies (including UNHCR), NGOs, local actors, and countries hosting refugees are facing financial uncertainty, risking a ripple effect that could leave displaced people without the aid they need.
The impact is real and heartbreaking. Life-saving assistance – food, clean water, health support – is being cut. For example, in South Sudan, only 25 per cent of the dedicated spaces created by UNHCR for women and girls at risk of violence are currently operational. In other countries, programs to help malnourished children under five have been suspended.
This is incredibly hard, but we cannot give up. Refugees and forcibly displaced people need our solidarity and support now more than ever. At UNHCR, we are doing our best to ensure life-saving assistance continues to reach the world’s most vulnerable. That’s why we are thankful to key donors like the Canadian government for being flexible and supporting our efforts.
What aspects of your new role in Canada are you most excited about?
Canada is a recognized global leader in refugee protection and solutions and a longstanding and trusted partner for UNHCR. I am most excited about working with the authorities and civil society on maintaining and improving asylum policy and practice.
At the same time, I’m looking forward to being introduced to some of the caring people who have helped build Canada’s reputation as a welcoming place for refugees. Amidst these difficult times, it is so inspiring to see how cities, organizations, schools, families and volunteers have been there to help.
I’m also eager to meet some of the refugees who came to Canada and shaped this vibrant country, through hard work and creativity. For example, UNHCR recently launched our new Hope Away From Home campaign, a virtual art exhibit showcasing the stories and artistic contributions of refugees and their supporters in Canada. This campaign highlights the resilience, creativity, and enduring human spirit of those who have found new beginnings in Canada. It’s a powerful reminder we all need at this time.
Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?
I am a food and wine afficionado, so I am really looking forward to exploring Canadian cuisine and wine. I was not aware of the extensive wine cultivation that occurs in Canada, and I have even heard of a food and wine route that I can’t wait to experience. Additionally, I am really hoping to explore Canada and its amazingly diverse and beautiful countryside.
