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How did you come to work on this project? Why were you interested?

Relationship abuse experienced by international students in Canada is often connected to safety concerns as students navigate balancing academic workload with maintaining immigration status. The uncertainty around reporting relationship abuse while preserving students’ immigration status is why international students continue to experience abuse in Canada. Providing international students with resources that clearly state their rights in Canada without jeopardizing their immigration status is why I was interested in this project.

Can you tell us about the link with your master’s degree coursework/courses and NEVR?

During my master’s program, I learned a lot about power, racism, and what social justice could look like in a society that prioritizes the well-being of all its residents. There are hardly any abuses affecting international students in Canada that are not deep-rooted in unequal power dynamics, racism, and discrimination. NEVR has worked hard to raise awareness about relationship abuse in British Columbia and to support survivors with resources to help them navigate abusive relationships. The training I have received has helped me critically reflect on how unequal power dynamics and racism could create the perfect recipe for relationship abuse experienced by international students.

How did your master’s courses in GSWS prepare you or inform this project?

Graduate courses in the GSWS department have enhanced my understanding of everyday issues affecting marginalized individuals. Theories like black feminism and intersectional feminism directly contribute to this toolkit by exploring how racism, patriarchy, sexism, and class combine to exacerbate the abuse experienced by international students. Lessons from feminist research methodology introduced me to the concepts of positionality and reflexivity, which have helped me maintain a level of vulnerability that is important when conducting research.

What would you like to see come out of this project? What will the impact be?

I want to see more people engage with the toolkit to understand international students’ experiences of relationship abuse. Reducing relationship abuse experienced by international students will require more support from IRCC, local communities, and service providers. I am hoping that with more engagement with this toolkit, there will be a wider safety margin for international students. Encouraging international students to report relationship abuse will also mean that these students feel safe enough to speak up. Additionally, I am hoping that the uncertainty around international students’ rights in Canada is resolved as more international students engage with the resources contained in the toolkit.

• Read the full report (PDF): Addressing relationship violence experienced by international students
• Register for the  (May 15, 2025) 

Student Bio

Remi Makinde (they/them) is a feminist, and a human rights lawyer with a keen interest in sexual rights, grassroots LGBTQI+ movement building, and inclusive advocacy. They have effectively promoted and protected the rights of women, and queer persons in Nigeria through engagement with state institutions and stakeholders while tactfully navigating cultural and religious differences in the country. In July 2021, Remi was nominated for the International Visitor Leadership Program on Human Rights and Civic Engagement as an emerging LGBT+ rights leader in Nigeria. At ´óÏó´«Ã½, Remi eagerly anticipates deepening their understanding of feminist theory, especially its intersections with race, sexuality, and political consciousness.