New from
Human Rights Watch:

World Report: Abusers Target Human Rights Messengers
Rights-Respecting Governments Should Speak Up to Protect Defenders
January 20, 2010
News Release
Washington, DC - Governments responsible for serious human rights violations have over the past year intensified attacks against human rights defenders and organizations that document abuse, Human Rights Watch said today in issuing its World Report 2010. The 612-page report, the organization's 20th annual review of human rights practices around the globe, summarizes major human rights trends in more than 90 nations and territories worldwide*, reflecting the extensive investigative work carried out in 2009 by Human Rights Watch staff.
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* more than 90 nations and territories worldwide, including the U.S. --- but not Canada.
Hey - wassup with THAT?
... "attacks against human rights defenders and organizations that document abuse" sounds like something that's been happening here in Canada, what with the increasing amount of media slagging in the past few years about human rights bodies and even respected individuals, like Louise Arbour, former Supreme Court Justice and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The only Canada coverage in the Human Rights Watch site is the following:
Canada: Human Rights Watch
- incl, links to * News Releases * Reports * Commentaries * Letters

Complete report:
World Report 2010 (PDF - 3.7MB, 624 pages)

Introduction to World Report 2010:
The Abusers’ Reaction: Intensifying Attacks on
Human Rights Defenders, Organizations, and Institutions
By Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch

Country Chapters - links to individual reports for 90 countries , including the U.S. --- but not Canada.

Source:
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, we give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes

Related links:

* Canadian Human Rights Commission
***** Links - over 120 links to related resources

* United Nations Association in Canada
***** Canada and Human Rights

List of Provincial Human Rights Commissions
Newfoundland and Labrador: http://www.justice.gov.nl.ca/hrc/
Prince Edward Island: http://www.gov.pe.ca/humanrights/index.php3?number=72187&lang=E
Nova Scotia: http://www.gov.ns.ca/humanrights/
New Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/hrc-cdp/index-e.asp
Quebec: http://142.213.87.17/en/home.asp
Ontario: http://www.ohrc.on.ca
Manitoba: http://www.gov.mb.ca/hrc
Saskatchewan: http://www.shrc.gov.sk.ca/
Alberta: http://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/
British Columbia: http://www.bchrt.bc.ca/

Google News Search results:
"Canada, human rights" - 2,495 results

Government Sites

Canadian Heritage
"The Canadian Heritage Portfolio, which includes the Department of Canadian Heritage and our major national cultural institutions, plays a vital role in the cultural and civic life of Canadians. We work together to promote culture, the arts, heritage, official languages, citizenship and participation, and Aboriginal, youth, and sport initiatives."
- incl. links to : A to Z Index - Arts and Culture - Citizenship and Identity - Diversity and Multiculturalism - International - Sport - Youth - The Department - About us - What's new - Application Forms - Funding Programs - Legislation - Organizational View - Publications - Regional Offices - Agencies and Corporations

What's New

Human Rights in Canada
- incl. links to :
* Speaking Notes for Eileen Sarkar, Assistant Deputy Minister, Citizenship and Heritage
* Partnering for Children's Rights
* Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
* Canada's Reports to UN Human Rights Conventions and Related Official Documents
* Selected Themes and Tributes
* Did you know?
* Continuing Committee of Officials on Human Rights

Human Rights Program
- incl. links to : * Did You Know? * Links * Themes and Tributes * Funding Program * Publications and Documents * Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms * Human Rights in Canada * International Human Rights
- Links to other Human Rights websites

Canada and International Human Rights : Main Menu
- incl. links to:
* Canada and the International Human Rights System: An Introduction * Multilateral human rights treaties to which Canada is a party * Canada's Reports on United Nations Conventions and Related Official Documents * Complaints to international organizations * Decisions of international bodies * Glossary of UN Terms * Universal Periodic Review

In addition to supporting the principles enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Canada has ratified the six United Nations human rights treaties and submitted reports on the implementation of each of these treaties.

Core Document to accompany all of Canada's Reports.
Basic reference document on Canada's political system for use by United Nations Human Rights Committees reviewing Canada's reports.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Adopted and proclaimed by the UN general Assembly on December 10, 1948.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - Accession by Canada in May 1976.Text of the Covenant, the first optional protocol and the views of the UN Committee on the merit of communications against Canada, Canada's most recent reports and the UN Committee conclusions on these reports.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESC). Ratified by Canada in May 1976.Text of the Covenant, Canada's most recent reports and the UN Committee conclusions on these reports.

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Accession by Canada in October 1970. Text of the Convention, Canada's most recent reports and the UN Committee conclusions on these reports.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Ratified by Canada in December 1991. Text of the Convention, the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (ratified by Canada in July 2000), and the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (ratified by Canada in September 2005), Canada's reports and the UN Committee conclusions on these reports.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Ratified by Canada in December 1981. Text of the Convention, the optional protocol, Canada's most recent reports and the UN Committee's conclusions on these reports.

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). Ratified by Canada in June 1987. Text of the Convention, Canada's most recent reports and the UN Committee's conclusions on these reports.

Also from Canadian Heritage:

Aboriginal Peoples' Program
The Aboriginal Peoples' Program (APP) supports the full participation and cultural revitalization of Aboriginal People in Canadian society. It enables Aboriginal Peoples to address the social, cultural, economic and political issues affecting their lives.
[ Aboriginal Programs, Policy, and Research ]

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Canada's Universal Periodic Review
Canada’s review before the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group session took place on February 3, 2009. A total of 45 states intervened during the three-hour interactive dialogue. These states made recommendations to Canada on a wide range of topics.

The Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of Canada (PDF - 97K, 24 pages)
March 3, 2009
- includes a list of the 68 recommendations Canada received from other States.

Response of Canada to the Recommendations
June 5, 2009
Canada welcomes and has given careful consideration to the 68 recommendations made during its Universal Periodic Review. (...)

2009 Universal Periodic Review
Annotated Table of recommendations for Canada (Word file - 94KB)
June 7
NOTE: this table is a 14-page section-by-section checklist for all 68 recommendations, and it includes the government's response for each rejected recommendation in the marginal comments for that section. You must be using a reasonably recent version of Microsoft Word (or the FREE Word Viewer) to view the marginal comments.

Canada's Universal Periodic Review
Canada's review under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) took place on February 3, 2009. Under the UPR, Canada must submit a written report (see "National Report" link above), with information on the promotion and protection of human rights in Canada, including achievements, best practices, and challenges. In addition, the report must include initiatives and commitments to address any challenges and improve human rights situations on the ground. Federal, provincial and territorial government officials worked together to identify the principal themes/issues that were to be addressed in Canada’s report. The issues that were included in Canada's report are available in the report outline.
- includes background information on the UPR, info on the UPR Process and a few links to related content.

Related link: UN panel calls for better treatment of Canada's Aboriginals, immigrants February 6, 2009 GENEVA — A United Nations panel is calling on Canada to improve the treatment of its Aboriginal people and other disadvantaged groups such as new immigrants and minorities. The UN Human Rights Council mentions in particular the need to protect Aboriginal women who face discrimination in various areas including "employment, housing, education and health care." The council also points out the "inequalities" that exist between Aboriginals, recent immigrants and other Canadians. Canada's human rights record came under review in Geneva this week with a Canadian government delegation appearing before the 47-country council for several hours Tuesday. It took just 15 minutes Thursday for the council to adopt a report containing 68 points based on concerns voiced by dozens of UN member countries about the situation in Canada. Source: CTV

Canada at the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - 1998 papers
(this link takes you further down on this page - click your browser's BACK button to return here)

Links to other Human Rights websites - excellent collection - 70+ links!

Canadian Human Rights Commission
"The Canadian Human Rights Commission administers both the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Employment Equity Act, and ensures that the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination are followed in all areas of federal jurisdiction."
- incl. links to : About Us - Discrimination and Harassment - Complaints - Alternative Dispute Resolution - Preventing Discrimination - Pay Equity - Employment Equity - Employers - Media Room - Publications - Legislation and Policies - Disclosure of Travel and Hospitality Expenses

* What's New

* Publications

* Human Rights Links
- incl. links to : Provincial and Territorial Human Rights Agencies - International Human Rights Agencies - Federal Departments or Organizations with Human Rights Responsibilities - United Nations - Organizations dedicated to the protection of Human Rights - United Nations tools for the enforcement of Human Rights - Non-Governmental Organizations - Acts, Tribunals and Judicial decisions - Universities - Others

* Women's Rights in Canada since 1900

* Aboriginal Rights in Canada since 1900

* Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Canada since 1900

* Publications

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
- incl. links to : About the CHRT - Public Documents - FAQ - Decisions  - Cases - Search - Alternate Resources 

Related link from MapleLeafWeb:

Canada’s Human Rights Commission System:
Introduction to the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Tribunal
By Jay Makarenko
November 18, 2008
The Canadian human rights commission system is constituted by two key federal agencies: the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. These agencies administer, promote, and adjudicate Canada’s federal human rights and employment equity legislation. This article provides an introduction to the history, role, structure, and key issues concerning these agencies.

The Canadian Human Rights Act: Introduction to Canada’s Federal Human Rights Legislation
By Jay Makarenko
November 18, 2008
One of Canada’s central rights documents is the Canadian Human Rights Act, which protects Canadians’ against discriminated against in areas of federal jurisdiction. This article presents the purpose and history of the Act, and provides an overview of its key provisions, application and administration.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Canada's International Human Rights Policy
Canada has been a consistently strong voice for the protection of human rights and the advancement of democratic values, from our central role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1947 to 1948 to our work at the United Nations today. Canada is a party to all six major international human rights conventions, as well as many others, and encourages all countries which have not made these commitments to do so.

Humanitarian Affairs

Human Rights and Freedoms
- incl. links to the following 18 studies (as at October 2009) by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service:
(click the link above to access al of the studies below)

* Access to Information and Privacy Rights: Changes Introduced by the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Public Safety Act, 2002 (Revised 1 December 2008)
* Biometrics and Government (11 September 2006)
* Canada's Federal Privacy Laws (25 September 2008)
* Canada's Legal Age of Consent to Sexual Activity (12 April 2001)
* Charter Equality Rights: Interpretation of Section 15 in Supreme Court of Canada Decisions (March 2007)
* Collective Bargaining Under the Canada Labour Code -- Remedies When Parties Fail to Resolve Labour Disputes (26 January 2009)
* Drug Testing in the Workplace (28 February 2008)
* Extraordinary Rendition: International Law and the Prohibition of Torture (17 July 2008)
* Federal, Provincial and Territorial Access to Information Legislation: An Overview (3 October 2008)
* Freedom of Religion and Religious Symbols in the Public Sphere (22 September 2008)
* Human Trafficking [In Brief] (21 November 2006)
* The Notwithstanding Clause of the Charter (16 October 2008)
* The Right to Privacy and Parliament [In Brief] (22 February 2006)
* Sexual Orientation and Legal Rights (8 July 2008)
* Sexual Orientation and Legal Rights: A Chronological Overview (26 September 2005)
* Telecommunications and Lawful Access: I. The Legislative Situation in Canada (21 February 2006)
* Telecommunications and Lawful Access: II. The Legislative Situation in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia (28 February 2006)
* Trafficking in Persons (18 July 2008)

Source:
Library of Parliament Research Publications
[ Parliament of Canada ]

Also from the Library of Parliament:

Bill C-21: An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act
29 May 2008
Bill C-21 repeals section 67 of the federal human rights statute, which has restricted access to the legislation’s redress mechanisms with respect to “any provision of the Indian Act or any provision made under or pursuant to that Act.”(2) In December 2007 and January 2008, the Aboriginal Affairs Committee considered Bill C-21 clause by clause in four meetings, adopting five significant opposition amendments having to do with interpretive and process matters, and leaving the repeal provision itself intact. On 28 May, by unanimous consent of the House of Commons, the bill was deemed concurred in at report stage, with government amendments modifying two of the Committee’s proposals, and deemed read a third time and passed.

Canada Report on Human Rights Practices - 2001
From the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 4, 2002
Source : U.S. Department of State

Court Challenges Program of Canada
The Court Challenges Program of Canada is a national non-profit organization which was set up in 1994 to provide financial assistance for important court cases that advance language and equality rights guaranteed under Canada's Constitution.

The Charter's challenges
The document is widely lauded but recent federal funding cuts have made challenges even more difficult to mount
April 7, 2007
By Tracey Tyler
To some, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Pierre Trudeau's greatest political legacy, was a supremely undemocratic development, weakening governments and handing judges the power to decide some of the most pressing social issues. But for the vast majority of Canadians, the Charter has become a symbol of national identity, taking its place alongside the Maple Leaf, hockey and snow. In poll after poll, most embrace the Charter as a kind of national mission statement, asserting the country's commitment to tolerance, fairness and equality.
Source
The Toronto Star

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Support the Court Challenges Program (CCP)!
September 28, 2006
Below you will find links to a letter to the Prime Minister and several background documents regarding the Court Challenges Program. A Steering Committee representative of both language rights and equality rights communities has prepared these materials and is asking that you do the following:

Inform the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) by noon of Monday, October 2, if you or your organization are willing to be listed as either a supporting organization or individual on this letter, or both.
(See http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/ for contact info)

Sign on to the Letter to the Prime Minister in Support of the Court Challenges Program
http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/ccp1.html

The Court Challenges Program: An Important Access to Justice Institution
http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/ccp2.html

The Court Challenges Program: An Effective and Accountable Institution
http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/ccp3.html

The History of the Court Challenges Program
http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/ccp4.html

Source:
Council of Canadians with Disabilities
DisAbled Women's Network - DAWN Ontario

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Justice comes at too high a price: Chief Justice McLachlin
March 09, 2007
TORONTO - Middle-class Canadians are increasingly frozen out by the cost and complexity of Canada's judicial processes, Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, said yesterday. Many Canadians would have to consider remortgaging their home, gambling their retirement savings or forsaking their child's college fund to pursue justice, Chief Justice McLachlin told an audience of about 150 at the Royal York Hotel yesterday.
Source:
National Post

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CANADA WITHOUT POVERTY / CANADA SANS PAUVRETÉ
Founded in 1971, Canada Without Poverty (officially the National Anti-Poverty Organization) is an incorporated, not-for-profit, non-partisan, member-based organization dedicated to the eradication of poverty in Canada. We believe this ideal can be realized by 2020, if not sooner, especially in a country as wealthy as Canada

Canada to reject 14 of 68 international human rights
recommendations including the development of a national strategy to eliminate poverty
June 6, 2009
By Rob Rainer
On Friday June 5, 2009 the Government of Canada made public Canada’s response to the 68 human rights-related recommendations made to Canada by the UN Human Rights Council, per the 2009 Universal Periodic Review.
This response will be communicated by the government before the Council on Tuesday June 9.

To aid your understanding of the UPR recommendations to Canada and Canada's response, and for ready reference, please see the links below from Heritage Canada's Human Rights Program website.

Of the 68 recommendations, Canada is accepting 39, rejecting 14 and partially accepting 15. Canada is rejecting some recommendations that, were they to be accepted, would mean Canada would join and/or ratify several international human rights treaties. The rejected recommendations also include a number specific to economic and social rights, including:

#1 (Ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
#10 (Recognize the justiciability of social, economic and cultural rights, in accordance with the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; ensure legal enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights in domestic courts; grant the same importance to and treat equally civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, in its legislation at all levels); and
#17 (Develop a national strategy to eliminate poverty)

On #17, that Canada is rejecting the call for a national strategy to eliminate poverty undermines the recent or current efforts of the House of Commons' HUMA Committee and various Senate committees and sub-committees to help determine the appropriate role of the federal government in combating poverty Canada-wide. It also flies in the face of calls from at least a couple of provinces (e.g., Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario), pursuant to their provincial poverty action strategies, for complementary engagement of the federal government to help ensure progress on poverty.

If you have not already done so, please register your support for the new Dignity for All Campaign for a Poverty-free Canada. Through this campaign civil society will strengthen its press for enduring federal commitment for a pan-Canadian approach to combating poverty, in which the federal government exercises the leadership it ought to exercise. Such leadership includes convening a process by which a pan-Canadian strategy to eliminate poverty, that complements and supports provincial and territorial strategies, will be realized, with a strong foundation in Canada’s international and domestic human rights commitments.

Rob Rainer
Executive Director / Directeur executif
CANADA WITHOUT POVERTY / CANADA SANS PAUVRETÉ

Related link:

Canada to UN: We'll decide what rights we will choose to observe...
June 8, 2009
By Michael Shapcott
Canada has signed a significant number of international human rights treaties that are legally binding in international law, but the federal government believes that it can pick and choose among its obligations - according to the official document tabled at the United Nations' Rights Council in Geneva today. The good news is that the federal government has accepted its responsibility to take a stronger role in ensuring all Canadians are adequately housed, but the federal government says that companion initiatives to address deep and persistent poverty and income inequality are mostly the responsibility of provinces and territories (and not the national government)...
Source:
Wellesley Institute Blog
[ Wellesley Institute ]

Canadian Civil Liberties Association
"...a non-profit, non-government law-reform organization dealing with issues of fundamental civil liberties and human rights that affect those who live all across Canada."
- incl. links to : Action ! | News & Events | CCLA Positions | CCLA History | CCLA People | CCLA In The Schools | Join Us | Feedback | Search | Other Interesting Sites

Canadian Charter of Rights Decisions Digest
- incl. links to : Contents | Interpretation | Waiver | Criminal Code | Statutes | Cases
This is a must-read for anyone interested in the Canadian Charter of Rights, for the connoisseurs and the curious alike --- includes an overview of each section of the Charter with commentaries (by Graham Garton, Q.C., Department of Justice, Ottawa) plus a large section of Charter decisions (with links to the actual text wherever possible).

Here are the links to two of the most relevant sections for poverty law in Canada:

Section 7 - Life, liberty and security of person
"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice."

Section 15 - Equality

Section 15(1) - Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law
"15.(1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability."

Section 15(2) - Affirmative action programs
"15.(2) Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability."

Source:
CanLII - Canadian Legal Information Institute

Online Reference Tools: Social Justice
Links to three dozen websites organized under the following headings:
* Human Rights / Democracy
* Human Rights / Democracy: Canadian NGOs
* Human Rights / Democracy: Gateways
* Human Rights / Democracy: International NGOs
* Human Rights / Democracy: International Organizations
* Hunger / Poverty / Homelessness / Disaster Relief
* Women & Gender Issues
Source:
University of Guelph Library

Human Rights & Poverty- Get Involved!
An initiative of the National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO)

Canadian Human Rights complaint on First Nations child welfare filed today by
Assembly of First Nations and First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
February 23, 2007
Today, the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada formally filed a complaint today with the Canadian Human Rights Commission regarding lack of funding for First Nations child welfare. “There are more than 27,000 First Nations children in state care. This is a national disgrace that requires the immediate and serious attention of all governments to resolve,” said National Chief Phil Fontaine. “Rational appeals to successive federal governments have been ignored. After years of research that confirm the growing numbers of our children in care, as well as the potential solutions to this crisis, we have no choice but to appeal to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.”
Source:
Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

Also from AFN:

First Nations Child and Family Services - Questions and Answers
February 2007

Leadership Action Plan On First Nations Child Welfare (PDF File - 1.5MB, 16 pages)
November 2006

Related link:

Cindy Blackstock Speaking Notes
Human Rights Complaint News Conference (PDF file - 107K, 6 pages)
February 23, 2007
Ottawa
Source:
First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

Food and Human Rights: Hunger, Health and Social Well-Being
International Symposium
University of British Columbia
September 28-29, 2005
Co-chairs: Kimberly Azyan, President, Social Work Alumni Association and
Graham Riches, Director, The School of Social Work and Family Studies.
"The UBC School of Social Work and Family Studies, in partnership with the UBC Social Work Alumni Association, cordially invite you to a thought provoking and informative public forum on the growth of hunger and food insecurity internationally and in Canada, and what to do about it. Explore the tensions and complexities of the global food system and learn about the right to food as an effective tool for action at home and overseas. Celebrate the role of food and nutrition in building healthy and sustainable communities and participate in drafting recommendations for achieving food security to be directed to international institutions, governments (all levels) and civil society."
Program
HTML
PDF (1.03MB, 2 pages)
NOTE: the PDF version includes a registration form and fee info ($75 for all sessions, lower fees for low income participants/students)

"We expect this to be a popular event so space will be limited. Please register by September 9, 2005.
Register on-line at the UBC Alumni website

Source:
School of Social Work and Family Studies
[University of British Columbia]
Celebrating 75 Years of Social Work Education at UBC!

Women's Civil and Political Rights in Canada 2005
The Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee
on the occasion of its review of Canada’s 5th report on compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
September 2005
Introduction - HTML
Full Report (PDF file - 179K, 55 pages)
Source:
Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action

Civil and Political Rights in British Columbia 2005
The Poverty and Human Rights Centre submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee
on the occasion of its review of Canada’s 5th report on compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
October 2005
Introduction
Full Report (PDF file - 140K, 48 pages)
Source:
Poverty and Human Rights Centre

The Rights of Children & Youth
- incl. links to : Introduction - Rights at Stake - International and Regional Instruments of Protection and Promotion - National Protection and Service Agencies - Advocacy, Educational and Training Materials - Other Resources
Source:
Human Rights Education Associates (HREA)

Related HREA links:

Study Guides
"...present definitions, key rights at stake, human rights instruments, and protection and assistance agencies, [in addition to] links to the full text of international treaties relevant for the topic, and other useful resources on the HREA and University of Minnesota Human Rights Library web sites."
themes include : Children & youth - European human rights system - Ethnic and racial minorities - Food & water - Freedom of assembly and association - Freedom of expression - Freedom of movement - Freedom of religion or belief - Housing - Indigenous peoples - Inter-American human rights system - International humanitarian law -- Persons with disabilities - Refugees - Right to culture - Right to a family - Right to life - Right to means for adequate health - Right to vote - Rights of non-citizens - Slavery and forced labour - Sexual orientation and human rights - Sustainable development - The aged - United Nations human rights system

Canadian Bar Association Announces Legal Team to Lead Court Challenge on Constitutional Right to Legal Aid
February 19, 2005
"CHARLOTTETOWN – The Canadian Bar Association [CBA] has named a four-person, blue-ribbon legal team to launch a test case to challenge British Columbia’s legal aid plan with the goal of establishing a constitutional right to civil legal aid in Canada."
- incl. links to : Backgrounder - CBA and Legal Aid ; Resolution - Eligibility for Legal Aid ; CBA Resolutions on Legal Aid ; CBA Legal Aid Legal Team Biographies
Source:
Canadian Bar Association

Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children
"The mandate of the Coalition is to ensure a collective voice for Canadian organizations and youth concerned with the rights of children as described in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the World Summit for Children Declaration."
- incl. links to : More About the Coalition - Our members, and links to their sites - UN Special Session on Children - How Does Canada Measure Up?

Related Links: Go to the Canadian Social Research Links Children's Rights Links page

Disability Rights Promotion International (York University - Toronto)
"Disability Rights Promotion International (DRPI) is a collaborative project to establish an international monitoring system to address disability discrimination worldwide.Monitoring the human rights situation of people with disabilities will:
* promote greater awareness of disability discrimination
* inform advocacy for equal rights
* encourage development of inclusive laws and policies."

- incl. links to : Text only version - Human Rights and Disability - The UN Human Rights System - Contact Us - About DRPI - Why Use a Human Rights Perspective? -
Why Monitor the Human Rights Situation of People with Disabilities? - History of DRPI - Five Areas for Monitoring - DRPI Phase I: Background Research
DRPI Phase II: Implementation

PHASE I REPORT: Opportunities, Methodologies, and Training Resources for Disability Rights Monitoring (PDF file - 1.4MB, 86 pages)
November 2003
"The report:
* describes the United Nations international human rights treaties and opportunities for the promotion and protection of the human rights of people with disabilities
* reviews various methods for collecting human rights data and ensuring thorough monitoring activities
* lists human rights training resources for various audiences and describes them in relation to their usefulness in the disability context."

Equal Marriage For Same-sex Couples
This is the story of Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell and other gay couples seeking the legal recognition of their right to be a married couple.
It documents the journey of same-sex couples in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, as they fight governments in court for the right to marriage.
The site includes legal factums and documents, first-hand accounts, photos, etc.
What are Registered Domestic Partnerships? Why are same-sex couples speaking out against RDPs? Find out here.
Great site, extensive content, good presentation, and a worthy cause to support if you believe in equality and freedom of choice. Visit the site, order the book ("Just Married", May 2002) online, donate, write a letter of support.
"...there are many gay and lesbian Canadians living today in long-term committed relationships, caring for each other, and raising families together. They are entitled to respect and dignity and should be afforded the same recognition in law as opposite-sex couples." (Canadian Human Rights Commission)

Human Rights Internet (HRI) - large Canadian site
"...a  world leader in the exchange of information within the worldwide human rights community. HRI has its headquarters in Ottawa, and communicates with more than 5,000 organizations and individuals around the world working for the advancement of human rights."
See the site map - this is a large site that's rich in content...
Partner Directory - links to the websites of almost three dozen partners

Core Document forming Part of the reports of State Parties Canada
Human Rights Internet
12 January 1998
Check out this 24-page online report submitted by the federal government to the United Nations for some excellent information about government and human rights in Canada.
"Canada's reports to the United Nations under multilateral treaties are prepared by the federal Government in collaboration with the provincial and territorial governments. The federal Department of Canadian Heritage assumes the general responsibility for the preparation of the reports, including the consultations with the provincial and territorial governments. It is assisted in this task by many other departments and agencies, in particular the Department of Justice, Status of Women Canada, the Department of Human Resources Development and Statistics Canada. The Canadian Human Rights Commission is invited to provide input for all reports and to comment on the drafts."
- includes : the land - the people - general political structure - political history - the Constitution - political framework and type of government -
legislative branches of the federal and provincial governments - The judicial branch - territories - municipalities - Self-government arrangements - general legal framework within which human rights are protected - How international human rights instruments are made part of the national legal system - institutions or national machinery responsible for overseeing the implementation of human rights - and more...

Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 List of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the third periodic report of Canada : United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (June 10, 1998)    Canadian Government Responses:  (November 1998)  Federal Government Response British Columbia Government Response Alberta Government Response Saskatchewan Government Response Manitoba Government Response Ontario Government Response Québec Government Response New Brunswick Government Response Nova Scotia Government Response Newfoundland Government Response Northwest Territories Government Response Yukon Government Response No response available from PEI  *Réponse du Gouvernement du Québec*  (voir la note sur la page de réponse du Québec pour obtenir le texte complet en français) NOTE: Check the government pages for a wealth of recent program information and statistics on welfare reform, poverty, disability, women, aboriginal people, homelessness and other topical issues.    . (excellent information on social program restructuring in Canada and its impacts on women) Canadian Women and the Social Deficit: A Presentation to the International Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by the National Association of Women and the Law  November 1998   Concluding observations of reports submitted by CANADA to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights PDF file - 73K, 10 pages December 4, 1998 Source: Low Income Families Together

Amnesty International Canada

Charter Committee on Poverty Issues (CCPI) - Canada
CCPI is a national coalition founded in 1989 to bring together low-income activists and poverty law advocates for the purpose of assisting poor people in Canada to secure and assert their rights under international human rights law, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the "Charter"), human rights legislation and other laws in Canada.
U.N. '98 Page - links to 18 documents

Litigation - information concerning Canadian human rights cases involving the Charter Committee on Poverty Issues.

Submission by the Charter Committee on Poverty Issues (CCPI) to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the occasion of the Review of the Third Report of Canada at the Committee's 19th Session (November - December, 1998)
- Includes a detailed analysis (~25 printed pages) of "the right to social assistance" with references to the Constitution Act, the Charter of Rights and the change from CAP to the CHST.
NOTE: The CCPI submission includes information on welfare case law in a number of jurisdictions that you definitely won't find elsewhere - dealing with the right to social assistance, adequacy of social assistance benefits, provincial contravention of national "standards" under CAP, sections 7 and 15 of the Charter of Rights, etc.
The case law information was prepared by Vincent Calderhead, Solicitor for the Charter Committee on Poverty Issues, in November, 1998.

The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA)
and economic, social and cultural rights education
"In addition to using provincial human rights legislation to forward housing equality, CERA works on a national and international level promoting social and economic rights, such as the right to housing and an adequate standard of living. Specifically, we work to promote interpretations of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms that protect the rights of poor people and are consistent with Canada's international human rights obligations."

- includes over a dozen links to relevant documents (by govt, NGO, and UN), either prepared for the upcoming (May 2006) meeting of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Review of Canada or presented as contextual/historical information. Recommended reading!

Canadian Housing Equality Resources
This website is produced by the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA), an Ontario-based non profit human rights organization that has spent the past 20 years challenging the systemic barriers and discrimination that contribute to homelessness and housing insecurity.

- incl. links to : Advocate's Guide - Human Rights - Tools - Legislation - Case Law - Other Resources

Source:
Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA)

Related link:

Housing rights: A Canadian web site
August 7, 2007
The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) has launched a new web site devoted to housing rights in Canada called Canadian Housing Equality Resources. It's full of interesting and important information, and is designed for everyone from the person (or household) that is experiencing housing discrimination to the housing advocate. Lawyers and legal advocates will find information on legislation and case law. And there are lots of practical tools, like dealing with the media. CERA has been active for two decades on housing issues and is recognized locally, nationally and internationally as an important partner.
Source of this brief review:
Michael Shapcott
The Wellesley Institute Blog
[ The Wellesley Institute ]

Source:
Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation

Access to Justice Network

United Nations Association in Canada (UNAC)

Canadian Human Rights Foundation

Canadian Human Rights Reporter
Canadian human rights case law from boards, tribunals, and courts published by the Canadian Human Rights Reporter (C.H.R.R.)

Beverley Smith's Page

 

From the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program [American Association for the Advancement of Science]: Canada-U.S Human Rights Information and Documentation Network (CUSHRID) "CUSHRID Net was developed to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information between human rights organizations; establishment of uniform standards for human rights documentation, information management and exchange; development of co-operative projects in the areas of documentation and information management to avoid duplication; training in various aspects of documentation and information management; and contacts and exchanges with information and documentation networks in other parts of the world." Directory of Human Rights Resources on the Internet - links to almost 600 human rights resources from around the world, organized by name of organization, by region/country, by topic or by language Links to Members' Websites for links to two dozen related sites, including several Canadian sites

INTERNATIONAL (Links added in reverse chronological order)

Social Rights
This website aims to give prominence to and address the major theoretical and practical issues of economic, social and cultural rights – the so-called “second generation rights”. Although most governments and international organizations claim to support the idea of the universality and indivisibility of rights, the situation on the ground is quite different. There is silent agreement that economic, social and cultural rights should be given second-class status.
- incl. links to : * Home * About Us * Submit an Article * Contact Us * List of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Instruments and Bodies
* Topics ( Council of Europe - Democracy - European Union - Human Rights NGOs - Human Rights Theory - Legal Instruments - Philosophical Topics - Political Theory - Promoting Economic Social and Cultural Rights - Protection Mechanisms - United Nations - Workers' Rights)

-------------------------------

From the website of
the United Nations:

The Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.

---------------------------------

U.S. to Join U.N. Human Rights Council, Reversing Bush Policy
By Colum Lynch
March 31, 2009
UNITED NATIONS, March 31 -- The Obama administration decided Tuesday to seek a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, reversing a decision by the Bush administration to shun the United Nations' premier rights body to protest the influence of repressive states. (...) The Geneva-based Human Rights Council was established in March 2006 to replace the 60-year-old Human Rights Commission, which lost international credibility after countries with abysmal rights records, such as Sudan and Zimbabwe, were allowed to join and thwart criticism of their actions. The Bush administration refused to join the new rights body, saying it was not convinced that it represented much of an improvement over its predecessor. (...) The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the U.N. system made up of 47 elected members whose mission is to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights globally.
Source:
Washington Post

Related links:

United Nations Human Rights Council
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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United Nations to Canada: You're failing in your housing obligations...
March 5, 2009
By Michael Shapcott
Canada has a long and successful history of housing programs that have provided a good home to literally hundreds of thousands of households, but much of that history has been shredded by almost two decades of funding cuts, downloading and cancellation of programs at the federal level, and also at lower levels of government. That's the official verdict of Miloon Kothari, the United Natons' Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing. The full report will be presented to the United Nations' Human Rights Council on Monday. The Wellesley Institute was pleased to help organize the civil society portion of Mr. Kothari's fact-finding mission to Canada, and also to provide research and policy assistance.
Comment found in:
Wellesley Institute Blog
[ Wellesley Institute ]

Complete report:

Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right
to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context (PDF - 155K, 27 pages)
17 February 2009
By Miloon Kothari
At the invitation of the Government, the Special Rapporteur conducted a mission to Canada from 9 to 22 October 2007. The visit focused on four areas: homelessness; women and their right to adequate housing; Aboriginal populations; adequate housing and the possible impact of the 2010 Olympic Games on the right to adequate housing in Vancouver.
Source:
Reports for the 10th session of the Human Rights Council
NOTE: Click the link in the preceding line to access links to dozens of reports submitted to 10th session of the Human Rights Council; reports are organized by country and by theme.
Below, you'll find links to a selection of those reports.

Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right
to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context (PDF - 105K, 25 pages)
4 February 2009
By Raquel Rolnik
The recent housing and mortgage crisis and the subsequent financial crisis have been at the forefront of the media and international attention. Yet, little has been said about their global impact on the right to adequate housing. In October 2008, the Special Rapporteur shared her concerns with the General Assembly. Encouraged by a number of delegations, she decided to devote her first report to the Human Rights Council to this issue. The first section of the present report discusses the housing/mortgage and financial crisis. The second part relates these crises to the prevalent economic, financial and housing policies and approaches and their impact on the right to adequate housing. The report concludes with a number of preliminary recommendations to address the current situation including consideration of the issue by the Human Rights Council.

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food (PDF - 104K, 22 pages)
The role of development cooperation and food aid in realizing
the right to adequate food: moving from charity to obligation
11 February 2009
By Olivier De Schutter
This report examines the contribution of development cooperation and food aid to the realization of the right to food. Development cooperation and food aid increasingly form a continuum ranging from interventions aimed at providing long-term support for food security to short-term answers to emergency situations. Both these policies have been under increased scrutiny in recent years, and both are in need of reform.

Report of the 2008 Social Forum (Geneva, 1-3 September 2008) (PDF - 110K, 29 pages)
16 January 2009
The present report contains a summary of discussions and recommendations of the 2008 Social Forum, held in Geneva from 1 to 3 September 2008, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 6/13. In that resolution, the Council decided to preserve the Social Forum as a vital space for dialogue between the representatives of Member States and civil society, including grass-roots organizations and intergovernmental organizations, on issues linked with
the national and international environment needed for the promotion of the enjoyment of all human rights by all.

10th session of the Human Rights Council (Geneva, 2 – 27 March 2009)
- Main page, includes links to the agenda, the program, the reports, background info on the Human Rights Council and much more...

Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
[ this link is part of Human Rights Bodies ]
[ ...which is part of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ]
[... which is part of the United Nations ]

---

Universal Periodic Review - Canada
3 February 2009
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its fourth session from 2 to 13 February 2009. The review of Canada was held at the 3rd meeting on 3 February 2009.

Highlights of the Canada session 3 February 2009

National report (PDF - 91K, 41 pages)
January 5, 2009
[ Each country under review must submit a written report to the Council in advance of the review; this is Canada's report for the Feb. 3/09 review. ]
- prepared in collaboration by the federal, provincial and territorial governments of Canada

Compilation of UN information (PDF - 94K, 19 pages)
The present report is a compilation of the information contained in the reports of treaty bodies, special procedures, including observations and comments by the State concerned, and other relevant official United Nations documents.

Summary of stakeholders' information (PDF - 87K, 18 pages)
NOTE : scroll down to "Related links" below for the actual text of each of the 50 submissions

Outcome of the review of Canada:
Report of the Working group (PDF - 96K, 24 pages)
February 5, 2009

Some general contextual information:

Universal Periodic Review
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. As one of the main features of the Council, the UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed.
[ More Basic facts about the UPR ]

Source:
Human Rights Council
[ United Nations ]

Related links:

Stakeholders’ information - links to all 50 submissions from Canadian NGOs.
Highly recommended reading --- insights into Canadian human rights issues from, among many others:
* Canadian Human Rights Commission * Assembly First Nations * Amnesty International * Council of Canadian with Disabilities * Charter Committee on Poverty Issues * Canadian Coalition for the rights of Children * Canadians For Choice * Citizens for Public Justice * Center on Research Action on Racial Relations * Disability Right Promotion International Canada * EGALE - Egale Canada * Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action * International Center for Transitional Justice * Independant Living Canada * Womens Housing Equality Network * British Columbia Universal Periodic Review Coalition * KAIRO * Ligue des Droits et Libertés * National Union of Public and General Employees * Native Womens Association of Canada * Pivot Legal Society * Wellesley Institute * more...
Source:
UPR Info
UPR-info.org is a creation of UPR Info, a Geneva-based Non-profit and Non-governmental Organisation aiming at promoting and strengthening the Universal Periodic Review by raising public awareness and facilitating the participation of delegations and the civil society.
- incl. links to : * Home * UN System * UPR Process * Countries * NGOs * Documents * Media Centre * About us * Links

Human Rights (U.K.)
"800 years of human rights in the United Kingdom explored using original documents from The National Archives"
The idea of "human rights" is a relatively new development in history, but as this website from Britain’s National Archives notes in its discussion of the long trajectory of struggles for equality and so forth, "We could do worse than characterizing this history as the struggle for human rights." This visually compelling online exhibit uses original documents from The National Archives to take a long view of these struggles and movements. Visitors can start their journey through the site by picking a time period, and then reading an introductory essay on the period. Each time period includes a timeline and links to digitized version of relevant documents, such as The Poor Act of 1601 and a poster for a Staffordshire coal miners’ union public meeting from 1831. The site is rounded out by a thorough glossary and a document index.
Source:
National Archives
(Government of the United Kingdom)
Reviewed by:
The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2007.

Amnesty International Report 2007: the state of the world's human rights
Amnesty International
Posted 07-06-2007
In Amnesty International's 2007 report on the state of the world's human rights the Australian government is one of the countries singled out for criticism for adopting 'the politics of fear' in relation to asylum seekers. Additionally Australia's refugee policies, violence against women and the counter-terrorism measures were areas highlighted as concerns.

Source:
APO Weekly Briefing
[ Australian Policy Online (APO) ]

Human Rights Education Associates (HREA)
HREA is an international non-governmental organisation that supports human rights learning; the training of activists and professionals; the development of educational materials and programming; and community-building through on-line technologies.

Study Guides
"The Study Guides offer introductions to various human rights topics. The guides present definitions, key rights at stake, human rights instruments, and protection and assistance agencies. They guides also offer links to the full text of international treaties relevant for the topic, and other useful resources on the HREA and University of Minnesota Human Rights Library web sites."
Topics include:
* Children & youth * Education * European human rights system * Ethnic and racial minorities * Food & water * Freedom of assembly and association * Freedom of expression * Freedom of movement * Freedom of religion or belief * Housing * Indigenous peoples * Inter-American human rights system * International humanitarian law * Persons with disabilities * Refugees * Right to culture * Right to a family * Right to life * Right to means for adequate health * Right to vote * Rights of non-citizens * Slavery and forced labour * Sexual orientation and human rights * Sustainable development * The aged * Torture, inhuman or degrading treatment * United Nations human rights system
[Click the Study Guides link above to access any of these guides.]

Library
The HRE Library contains over 2,000 full-text guides, curricula, textbooks and other documents that can be used for both formal and non-formal education about, for and in human rights.

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Updated 14 September 2007:
UN General Assembly adopts the Declaration in September 2007
With an overwhelming majority of 143 votes in favour, only 4 negative votes cast (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United States) and 11 abstentions, the United Nations General Assembly (GA) adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on September 13, 2007. The Declaration has been negotiated through more than 20 years between nation-states and Indigenous Peoples.
Source:
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs

AFN National Chief applauds today’s passage of the
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – Recognizing 30 years of work in the making
Source:
Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

Canadian vote left stain on country's reputation
September 26, 2007
Thursday Sept. 13 was a sad day for Canada and its partnership with First Nations peoples – a partnership that has had too many sad chapters. It was also a sad day for Canada's international reputation. The Government of Canada accomplished a stunning about-face in voting against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples before the world that day.
Source:
The Toronto Star

Related Web/News/Blog links:

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples"
- Web search results page
- News search results page
- Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

Poverty and Human Rights (PDF file - 237K, 32 pages)
Peter Townsend
Published July 28, 2006
"Townsend presents the case for using human rights and the deprivation of human rights as a measure of poverty. He argues that the World Bank’s dollar-a-day standard, while a good temporary measure is now inconsistent, uneven and ultimately inadequate. To Townsend, the Bank’s strategies focusing on macro economic reform and that follow a neoliberal framework of privatizations and cuts in public spending have failed. He promotes an alternative strategy for poverty alleviation that includes employment creation, equitable taxation, universal social services and democratic control of Trans National corporations and agencies. Townsend hopes that by providing this alternative development strategy the most vulnerable portions of global populations would be protected, namely the elderly, sick (with terminal illness, i.e. AIDS), and children from vagaries of the market."
Source:
International Conference on The Many Dimensions of Poverty
Brasilia, 29-31 August 2005
International Poverty Centre
United Nations Development Programme

From Amnesty International:

Amnesty International Report 2006 ($)
- incl. links to: Regional Overview [including Canada, see the link below] • Asia-Pacific • Europe and Central Asia • Middle East and North Africa) - Key Issues (Arms Control, International Justice, Displaced People, Stop Violence Against Women [see the link below], Death Penalty) - Secretary General's Message - The Search for Human Security - What does AI do?

Stop violence against women:
WOMEN’S RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM VIOLENCE
Some 3,000 representatives from governments and women’s and human rights organizations came together in New York in March 2005 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Beijing UN World Conference on Women and to assess progress towards fulfilling the Beijing Declaration and Program for Action. While governments unanimously reaffirmed the commitments they had made a decade ago, they failed to make further pledges to promote and protect women’s human rights. This failure was in part the result of a retrogressive attack on women’s human rights that has become evident over the past few years. This attack, especially regarding women’s sexual rights and reproductive rights, was led by conservative US-backed Christian groups and supported by the Holy See and some member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The attacks on women’s rights, the changed global security context and the lack of will by states to implement international human rights standards formed the backdrop against which AI continued throughout 2005 to join with women’s groups around the world to promote women’s human rights.

Regional Overview : Canada
"Indigenous women and girls continued to suffer a high level of discrimination and violence. There were concerns that counter-terrorism practices did not conform to human rights obligations. More..."

All Amnesty International Documents on Canada - links to 55 reports

Right of Choice:
It's In Our Hands: Stop Violence Against Women
Amnesty International Report 2006
July 10, 2006
From birth to death, in times of peace as well as war, women face discrimination and violence at the hands of the state, the community and the family. Female infanticide deprives countless women of life itself. Every year, millions of women are raped by partners, relatives, friends and strangers, by employers and colleagues, security officials and soldiers. Women, children and men suffer from violence inflicted in the home, but the overwhelming majority of victims are women and girls. During armed conflicts, violence against women is often used as a weapon of war, in order to dehumanize the women themselves, or to persecute the community to which they belong.
Source:
DAWN-Ontario (DisAbled Women's Network-Ontario)

Human Rights 101 (U.S. site)
"Using Human Rights 101, teens and teachers can find the materials they need to create a human rights project - or they can use the site to identify and pursue individual interests. The site provides teachers with an online version of the Thirteen Human Rights 101 educators' toolkit, while providing teens with ways to focus and absorb the variety of issues they can tackle.
- incl. an overview of human rights issues; a "profile" feature that enables users to identify which human rights issues are most important to them; a directory of human rights organizations highlighting teen volunteer opportunities; and links to human rights programs and Web sites."

Human Development Report 2004
Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World
July 15, 2004
Related Links
- go to the United Nations Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/un.htm

Slip-Sliding Away: The Erosion of Hard-Won Gains for Women
Under the Bush Administration and an Agenda for Moving Forward (PDF file - 529K, 77 pages) - U.S.
April, 2004
"In ways both well-publicized and carefully hidden, glaring and subtle, the Bush Administration is rolling back women’s progress in every aspect of their lives. Slip-Sliding Away shows that many of the Administration’s actions with harsh effects on women are occurring almost completely without public scrutiny, and that some of its more well-publicized actions have a particularly harmful effect on women that is not widely known. The report includes recommended actions that should be taken to expand and protect women’s rights and opportunities."
Source:
National Women's Law Center

Double standards on human rights 'undermining UN'
March 14, 2005
The United Nations human rights commission, the UN's principal forum for promoting human rights, opens its annual six-week session today amid unprecedented criticism of its competence and credibility. For years human rights groups have complained of growing politicisation and double standards that have stifled debate and allowed countries responsible for egregious abuses to escape condemnation. (...) Kenneth Roth, head of New York-based Human Rights Watch, reckons that about half the commission's 53 members are there "not to promote human rights but to undermine them".
Source:
Financial Times - U.S.

Related links:

Materials for the 61st Session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights
"Human Rights Watch presents its priorities and concerns to the 61st session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights."
March 11, 2005
Source:
Human Rights Watch

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Commission on Human Rights - 61st session (Geneva )
14 March-22 April 2005
"The United Nations Commission on Human Rights is the world’s foremost human rights forum. Established in 1946 to weave the international legal fabric that protects our fundamental rights and freedoms, its brief has expanded over time to allow it to respond to the whole range of human rights problems. The Commission continues to set standards to govern the conduct of States, but it also acts as a forum where countries large and small, non-governmental groups and human rights defenders from around the world can voice their concerns."
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

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Commission on human rights holds sixty-first session at Palais des nations from 14 March to 22 April 2005
10 March 2005
"The principal human rights organ of the United Nations, the Commission on Human Rights, will conduct its annual six-week session for 2005 from 14 March to 22 April."
Source:
United Nations Office at Geneva

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‘Freedom from want’ – from charity to entitlement (PDF file - 162K, 18 pages)
March 4, 2005
By Louise Arbour
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Speech by Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (LaFontaine-Baldwin lecture) on March 4, 2005 about human rights and poverty issues in Canada.
Source:
LaFontaine Baldwin Lecture 2005

Louise Arbour Takes Up Mandate of High Commissioner
Press Release
July 1, 2004
"Louise Arbour takes up her duties today as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mrs. Arbour was, until June 2004, a member of the Supreme Court of Canada."
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Derechos Human Rights
"...an international organization working for the respect and promotion of human rights all over the world."
- incl. links to : Site Map - Derechos' Café - HR Issues - The Disappeared - HR around the World - HR Actions! - Groups hosted by Derechos - HR Mailing Lists - HR Links - About Derechos - Contact Us
Derechos Human Rights Links : directory of links, incl. Campaigns & Actions - Directories - Education - General Human Rights Websites - Issues (reparations, torture, women's rights, etc.) - International Organizations - Law - NGOs (by issue, by region) - Politics & Government - Publications - Regional (regions, countries, etc.) - Reports & News - Resources & Tools
for human rights professionals & activists - Etcetera
- Canadian Human Rights Links

Universal Income Trust (New Zealand)
"Universal Income Trust is a non-profit, registered, educational charity. Its purpose is to inform people about the social, environmental, and economic benefits of universal income systems i.e. economic systems that fulfil the minimum basic requirements inherent in the International Bill of Human Rights."

Child Rights Information Network (CRIN)
"The Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) is a global network based in the U.K. that disseminates information about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and child rights amongst non-governmental organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, inter-governmental organisation (IGOs), educational institutions, and other child rights experts."
- LARGE site - containing references to hundreds of publications, recent news and upcoming events, as well as details of organisations working worldwide for children. The site also includes NGO reports reports submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

You'll find more links to CRIN website content - focusing on the work of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child - on the Canadian Social Research Links Children's Rights links page.

31st Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
United Nations (September 16 - October 4, 2002)
(Go to the Canadian Social Research Links United Nations Links page for related links)

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Geneva, Switzerland
Site Map

International Human Rights Instruments - links to over 100 declarations, covenants, protocols, resolutions, conventions, principles, guidelines - including the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, etc.

World Audit
"World Audit is in an international not-for-profit company, registered in England by the registered charity, World Concern. Our aim is to provide a truly global geopolitical perspective because we believe that corruption, human rights abuses, vote stuffing, miscarriages of justice, and press censorship in ANY country should be publicised to as wide an audience as possible.(...) World Audit brings together statistics and reports from highly respected agencies, each with their own developed specialities. Freedom House, Transparency International, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, The International Commission of Jurists are THE names where political rights, civil liberties, press freedom, perceptions of corruption, human rights, and the rule of law, are concerned. From their admirable work we present and update the World Democracy Audit. Our reports monitor and rank every one of the 149 nation states with populations in excess of 1 million - thus 99% of the world's population. In addition, for purposes of comparison, we include the Table produced by the World Forum of Electoral Democracies. Finally, we have 210 country pages which include World Audit statistics and links to democracy and human rights country reports, and now The Index of Economic Freedom as well, a different kind of liberty to the other reported here."
- [Canada's World Democracy Audit overall ranking --- 9th of 149 countries]
Related Links:
World Concern - "Sharing Christ's love in word and deed"
Freedom House - "...a non-profit, nonpartisan organization, a clear voice for democracy and freedom around the world"
Transparency International - "...the global coalition against corruption"
Amnesty International - "...working to protect human rights worldwide"
Human Rights Watch - "...dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world"
International Commission of Jurists - "dedicated to the primacy, coherence and implementation of international law and principles that advance human rights"

High-level officials of six countries* and European Union address Commission on Human Rights
[*including Canada]
Press Release
March 19, 2002
Source : United Nations Office at Geneva

The Commission on Human Rights holds its annual session from 18 March to 26 April 2002.
Read background release
Read all releases covering the session
The High Commissioner gives a press conference as Commission begins session

Canada can make a difference at Monterrey notes The North-South Institute
Press Release [Version française]
March 18, 2002
OTTAWA -- "Developed countries need to confirm their commitment to eradicating global poverty by taking strong steps toward implementing the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) during this week’s United Nations Monterrey conference,” emphasizes Roy Culpeper, President of The North-South Institute."
Source : The North-South Institute

Related Links :

From the U.N. News Centre :

Debate on foreign development assistance must focus on concrete goals: UNDP chief
March 19, 2002
As a key United Nations forum on development moved into its second day, the head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) today said the debate over official development assistance (ODA) should focus on what concrete goals spending would achieve instead of what should be spent.

UN’s principal human rights body opens session in Geneva
March 18, 2002
The United Nations Human Rights Commission opened its fifty-eight session in Geneva today, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, describing the gathering as the forum at which the most comprehensive debate on the state of human rights around the world takes place.

UN development summit opens amid calls for more international aid to poor countries
March 18, 2002
As world leaders assembled in Mexico today for the start of a United Nations forum on mobilizing resources for development, the heads of the UN economic commissions highlighted factors that blocked the flow of aid and development efforts in their regions, such as heavy debt and armed conflict.

From the U.N. Media Centre at Geneva :

The Commission on Human Rights holds its annual session from 18 March to 26 April
Background Release
Related Releases
Press Conference - (High Commissioner)

Center for Economic and Social Rights (U.S.)
The Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) was established in 1993 to promote social justice through human rights. CESR works with social scientists and local partners in affected communities to document rights violations, advocate for changes in policies that impoverish and exploit people, and mobilize grassroots pressure for social change.
- incl. links to : Home | About CESR | About Rights | NEW | Events | Get Involved | Links | Media | Publications | International Program | United States Program | Contact Info | Search
Links - excellent collection, includes : Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Organizations and Networks - Other Human Rights and Social Justice Organizations and Networks -
Community-Based Organizations - Health and Environmental Justice - Rights in the Global Economy - Middle East - Media Resources - Other Resources

OneWorld.net OneWorld is dedicated to harnessing the democratic potential of the internet to promote human rights and sustainable development - incl. links to thousands of articles and hundreds of partners around the world.  - see Headlines - Special Reports - Campaigns - Editions - Guides - Think Tanks - Partners - and much more... OneWorld Canada

Rights & Democracy - The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
This site works best in Internet Explorer. (I'm being polite here - actually, this site works like crap in Netscape 4.75)
Incl. Globalization and Human Rights - Indigenous Peoples' Rights -International Human Rights Advocacy -Women's Rights
Rights & Democracy - The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development is a non-partisan organization with an international mandate. It was created by Canada's Parliament in 1988 to encourage and support the universal values of human rights and the promotion of democratic institutions and practices around the world.
President : Warren Allmand
- Don't miss the excellent collection of links to Canadian and international directories and databases - but I can't offer you a link to it because this site uses frames.
You'll have to go there, using Internet Explorer.

USA @WTO/DOHA - The United States of America at the 4th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, in Doha, Qatar, 9-13 November 2001
Canada and the WTO - 2001 Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar (from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade - DFAIT)
Also from DFAIT :
Trade Negotiations and Agreements

Coverage of the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha (from the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development)
OUR WORLD IS NOT FOR SALE --- WTO: Shrink or Sink (from the Council of Canadians)
WTO Watch - Global information center on trade and sustainable development

Earth Summit 2002 Website - Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development
Incl. links to : Network 2002 Newsletter - National Sustainable Development Strategies - The 2002 Page - Briefing Papers - Partners - Roadmap to 2002 - UN CSD NGO Steering Committee - UN Documents - Links

Copenhagen +5 : A Social Development Resource For All Stakeholders
Following-Up the World Summit for Social Development / WSSD +5
See the Site Map -- links to WSSD - WSSD+5 - UN Commission on Social Development - 10 Commitments (Documents by Issues) - Stakeholders (Documents by Groups) - Emerging Issues - Online Discussions for WSSD+5 - Links
Downloads - LARGE archive of rich content on the following : World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen 1995 - WSSD +5: Review, Geneva 2000 - UN Commission on Social Development - Emerging Issues: Beyond WSSD+5 - 10 Commitments: Documents from Various Stakeholders by Issues

Tobin Tax for Social Development
Jasmin Enayati & Minu Hemmati, UNED-UK
June 2000
Related links - go to the Canadian Social Research Links Tobin Tax Links page

Project DIANA
Yale Law School

World Development Report 2000/2001: Attacking Poverty
Full text of the report
Key Documents
WDR web site
Source: World Bank PovertyNet

PovertyNet Newsletter #23 September 2000
World Bank
[I subscribe to the PovertyNet Newsletter, and I heartily recommend it to anyone looking for international poverty-related information...]
Click on the link above to read it online or to sign up to receive the newsletter by e-mail.
In the September issue:

1. On-line Resources on the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings 2000  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  This year's Annual Meetings of the joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee and the IMF's International Financial and Monetary Committee took place in Prague September 26-28. Related Websites: Development Committee web site Prague Briefing Center

2. September Feature: World Development Report 2000/2001 Urges Broader Approach to Reducing Poverty
3. Voices of the Poor, Volume II: "Crying Out for Change": Final Version Hot Off the Press
4. New Impact Evaluation Web Site
5. Poverty Dimensions of Fiscal Year 1999 World Bank Lending
6. Information and Communication Technology: A New Poverty Reduction Strategy Sourcebook Chapter
7. Social Cohesion Nexus Newsletter (CPRN - Canada)
8. Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Poverty Briefings
9. Help Us!
10. To Receive or Stop Receiving this Newsletter
Source : World Bank PovertyNet website
- See the World Bank section lower down on this page
 

ILO and Copenhagen +5
On the recommendation of the World Summit for Social Development, the General Assembly decided in 1995 (resolution 50/161) to hold a special session in 2000 for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the Summit and to consider further actions and initiatives. The Special Session of the General Assembly of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and Beyond: Achieving Social Development for All in a Globalizing World" will be held in Geneva from 26 to 30 June 2000.
The ILO and the Geneva 2000 Forum - Programme of activities

United Nations Development Program

International Save the Children Alliance
The International Save the Children Alliance currently comprises 26 organisations around the world. Working in over 100 countries, Save the Children is the largest independent movement for children

World Bank
(Focus on : Africa - East Asia and the Pacific - Central Europe & Central Asia - Latin America & the Caribbean - Middle East & North Africa - South Asia)
This is an enormous site with scads of information - check out the site map.

On-line resources on the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings
- Links to information on the April 2000 meetings of the joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee and the IMF's International Financial and Monetary Committee.
- Development Committee web site - incl. About the Development Committee - Issues - Members and Observers - Communiques - Documentation - List of Chairmen - Secretariat News and Events
Source : April 2000 issue of the PovertyNet Newsletter
NOTE: Social researchers should check out this newsletter for a wealth of info on global poverty issues. You can examine 18 issues of the newsletter online, each with timely information and links to reports and other related sites. You can also subscribe to receive the newsletter by e-mail; I did after reading just one issue.
Another must-visit site is  the World Bank PovertyNet website.

Amnesty International Online

Report 2005: A dangerous new agenda
Press Release
May 25, 2005
"(London) Governments are betraying their promise of a world order based on human rights and are pursuing a dangerous new agenda, said Amnesty International today as it launched its annual assessment of global human rights. Speaking at the launch of the Amnesty International Report 2005, the organization's Secretary General Irene Khan said that governments had failed to show principled leadership and must be held to account."

Amnesty International Report 2005
The state of the world's human rights
"During 2004, the human rights of ordinary men, women and children were disregarded and grossly abused in every corner of the globe.
The Amnesty International Report 2005, covering 149 countries, is a detailed picture of these abuses."

Canada - one of 149 countries covered in this report...
More Amnesty International reports concerning Canada - links to dozens of reports

Amnesty International Report 2004
May 26, 2004
- incl. links to : AI Report 2004 - Secretary General's message - A human rights agenda - AI's activities - Regional overview (Africa - Americas - Asia and the Pacific - Europe and Central Asia - Middle East and North Africa) - List of countries - Report Guide - Buy the report

Press Release:
Report 2004: War on global values -- attacks by armed groups and governments fuel mistrust, fear and division
May 26, 2004
"(London) Governments and armed groups have launched a war on global values, destroying the human rights of ordinary people, Amnesty International said today as it released its annual assessment of human rights worldwide. Launching the Amnesty International Report 2004, the organization said that violence by armed groups and increasing violations by governments have combined to produce the most sustained attack on human rights and international humanitarian law in 50 years. This was leading to a world of growing mistrust, fear and division."

A few sample country reports:

- Canada Report 2004
- United States Report 2004

Source:
Amnesty International

rightsnet (U.K.)
"The welfare rights website for advice workers offers free, immediate access to the most up to date social security information available. The site also includes breaking news, new legislation, guidance and policy developments, discussion forums, an updater, swopshop, q&a’s, rightsjobs, benefit rates and more."

The WWW Virtual Library:  International Affairs Resources
 - Nongovernmental Organizations
 - The United Nations
 - The European Union
 - Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs
.
Vienna Plus Five Global NGO Forum on Human Rights
Final Document
June 22-24, 1998
Ottawa, Canada

GLOBAL POLICY FORUM
New York
Monitoring global policy making at the United Nations
Social and Economic Policy
Human Rights and Transnational Corporations
Bretton Woods Institutions & the World Trade Organization

International Bureau for Children's Rights
The International Bureau for Children's Rights was founded in Paris on 20 November, 1994, at the initiative of Judge Andrée Ruffo of the Quebec Juvenile Court (Canada). The Bureau's mission is to protect, defend and promote the rights and the welfare of all children in every corner of the globe.

Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide.

The Latest News - Human rights news from around the world, frequently updated.

2009 World Report: Obama Should Emphasize Human Rights Stop Abusive States From Playing System to Avert Criticism News Release January 14, 2009 (Washington, DC) - The incoming Obama administration will need to put human rights at the heart of foreign, domestic, and security policy if it is to undo the enormous damage of the Bush years, Human Rights Watch said today in issuing its World Report 2009. Complete report: Human Rights Watch World Report 2009 (PDF - 4.5MB, 576 pages) January 2009 This report is Human Rights Watch's nineteenth annual review of human rights practices around the globe. It summarises key human rights issues in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide, drawing on events through November 2008. Each country entry identifies significant human rights issues, examines the freedom of local human rights defenders to conduct their work, and surveys the response of key international actors, such as the United Nations, European Union, Japan, the United States, and various regional and international organisations and institutions. Source: Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, we give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes.] [ Links to Human Rights Watch's work on children's rights ] --- 2008 Report: Democracy Charade Undermines Rights Human Rights Watch Highlights Abuses in Pakistan, Kenya, China, Somalia News Release Washington, DC January 31, 2008 The established democracies are accepting flawed and unfair elections for political expediency, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its World Report 2008. By allowing autocrats to pose as democrats, without demanding they uphold the civil and political rights that make democracy meaningful, the United States, the European Union and other influential democracies risk undermining human rights worldwide. Complete report: World Report 2008 Human Rights Watch surveys the human rights situation in more than 75 countries. - includes the U.S. but not Canada HTML version - includes links to individual country sections (across the top of the page) along with an introduction, five essays. audio commentary, news conference, photography, news release, the complete report in PDF format PDF version (PDF - 5.4MB, 581 pages) * World Report 2007 * World Report 2006 [For earlier reports, see the far right column on the HRW Publications page Source: Human Rights Watch Also from Human Rights Watch: US: Leaving UN Rights Council Fails Victims of Abuse (Geneva, June 6, 2008) – A decision by the United States to disengage from the UN Human Rights Council amounts to an abandonment of human rights defenders and victims, Human Rights Watch said today. The United States announced today at its daily State Department briefing that it will only participate in debates at the council when absolutely necessary and it feels compelled to do so by “matters of deep national interest.”

Human Rights Watch (HRW) Email Lists (New York)
Read about and check out sample issues of newsletters from HRW, then subscribe to receive one or more by e-mail:
- Monthly Update
- HRW Publications
- Regional Human Rights (incl. the Americas)
- Arms Trade and the Protection of Human Rights
- Children's Rights Action Network
- Human Rights Watch News HIV/AIDS
- Human Rights Watch News LGBT
- Human Rights Watch International
- Film Festival
- Refugees
- Women's Rights

Human Rights Research and Education Links
 

See also United Nations Links

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