Amnesty International is urging governments across Canada to establish oversight committees to monitor the human rights impact of decisions, policies and laws adopted to address the COVID-19 pandemic. “By taking proactive steps now, to put strong oversight in place, governments have an important opportunity to deliberately ensure that human rights concerns will be anticipated, identified and minimized … Read more
The Canadian government’s decision to shut down the U.S. border to refugee claimants is a breach of international law and risks further endangering lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Over the past week, we have seen many restrictive government measures to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of which may be appropriate to uphold the basic rights to life and health, but this move does not … Read more
Amnesty International Canada Secretary General Alex Neve and France-Isabelle Langlois, Directrice Générale of Amnestie internationale Canada francophone, sent an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) and all premiers, calling on them to demonstrate leadership by expressing strong support for the vital role that human rights defenders, including Indigenous rights defenders and environmental defenders, … Read more
Amnesty International will appear as an intervening party before the Supreme Court of Canada in Saskatchewan and Ontario’s historic legal challenges of the federal carbon pricing plan. The two cases will be heard jointly on March 24-25, 2020. This case marks the first time that governmental climate action is challenged before the Supreme Court, as the … Read more
A coalition of Canadian civil society organizations is dismayed that Global Affairs Canada claims it has found “no credible evidence” linking Canadian exports of military equipment to human rights violations committed by Saudi Arabia. On Sept. 17, the Deputy Ministers of International Trade and Foreign Affairs signed off on a redacted memorandum which indicates that, while Saudi Arabia’s … Read more
Two days before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) unveils his new cabinet, Amnesty International is publishing an open letter urging the Prime Minister to prioritize human rights in the mandates of all ministers. In the letter, Amnesty International Canada Secretary General Alex Neve and Amnistie internationale Canada francophone Executive Director France-Isabelle Langlois say upholding and promoting … Read more
An alliance of women’s rights and equality-seeking organizations has called off plans to host a national leaders’ debate on women’s rights and gender equality. Only NDP leader Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, B.C.) and Green Party leader Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C.) had committed to debating women’s rights and gender equality issues. The Bloc Quebecois expressed … Read more
Up for Debate, a national alliance of women’s rights and gender equality advocates, posted the an ad online Monday night, just as the six federal party leaders took to the stage for the English debate. The alliance has invited the Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic, Bloc and Green parties to participate in a separate televised debate on women’s … Read more
Canada has formally acceded to the Arms Trade Treaty, a coalition of Canadian civil society organizations are once again calling on the Government of Canada to definitively end the export of Light Armored Vehicles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Today, as the Arms Trade Treaty comes into force in Canada, I have sent a formal notice … Read more
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and numerous reports by international human rights bodies have all documented the profound and tragic harms that have resulted from Canada’s colonial laws and policies. All these bodies have called on federal and other governments to heal the harm … Read more
