A coalition of women’s rights organizations released a statement (endorsed by Amnesty International Canada) calling on the women foreign ministers at a meeting in Montreal this week to make concrete and accountable commitments during the UN General Assembly to recognize, protect and support increasingly persecuted women human rights defenders around the world. “Women human rights defenders … Read more
More than one year after the UN raised concerns in its review of Canada’s track record, the Trudeau government has missed a key reporting deadline and has failed to make any progress in implementing most of the recommendations that the Committee had prioritized for urgent action. “It is deeply concerning that not only has Canada … Read more
Amnesty International Canada endorsed an open letter to all senators: “Our Nations and organizations urge all Senators to support Bill C-262, a private member’s bill to ensure that the federal government implements the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” reads the letter. “Senators have before them a crucial choice. What is at stake … Read more
In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.), organizations from across Canada have laid out concerns and questions regarding the appointment of a new and unprecedented Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction. The key concerns outlined in the letter include: Creating a Minister of Border Security fuels an unfounded sense of … Read more
A group of civil society leaders is calling for a measured response, focussed on avoiding alarmist rhetoric and ensuring the protection of the human rights of refugee claimants. Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty international Canada said: “One key step that becomes only more urgent and more obvious with time is the need to suspend the … Read more
Amnesty International and the BC Civil Liberties Association have written to Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould (Vancouver-Granville, B.C.) to express their disappointment with her decision to create an “independent external review” into the extradition case of Dr. Hassan Diab, instead of a public inquiry. The letter also took issue with the decision … Read more
Amnesty International and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association are calling on National Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan (Vancouver South, B.C.) for answers regarding possible Canadian complicity in grave human rights abuses in the course of a joint maritime anti-drug trafficking operation known as Operation Martillo undertaken by the Canadian Navy in cooperation with the … Read more
The Canadian Council for Refugees, Amnesty International and the Canadian Council of Churches have completed filing extensive evidence in Federal Court to support their legal challenge of the designation of the United States as a safe third country for refugees. “The Government of Canada should first ensure all people in Canada have access to the Charter … Read more
On the eve of the G7 Summit in Quebec, Amnesty International Canada Francophone Branch and the Quebec Civil Liberties Union (known in French as the Ligue des droits et libertés) have issued a progress report on their mission to monitor respect for civil liberties at this event. “The police have told us that they have learned from … Read more
Amnesty International is alarmed at the government of Canada’s failure to act on a recommendation by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women and Girls’ to establish a national task force to review and reopen cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. “Indigenous families, Indigenous organizations, and human rights organizations have … Read more
