Human rights

A publication of the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission commissioned this research project to examine past legal assessments of accommodation for environmental sensitivities, including how third parties may be involved and the relevance of buildings codes and standards. This report concludes by providing descriptions of best practices in relation to accommodation of environmental sensitivities and principles of universal design.  This 44-page PDF is available for free download. (2007)

The Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre is a Canadian non-governmental, non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Calgary which undertakes research on contemporary civil liberties and human rights issues that are of concern to Albertans. The projects are diverse – from proposals for reform of human rights legislation, to a report on citizen complaints about police conduct, to a manual for lawyers who represent mentally disabled clients. Staff and volunteers make presentations on a wide range of civil liberties and human rights topics.

The Research Centre undertakes research on contemporary civil liberties and human rights issues that are of concern to Albertans.The Centre responds to members of the public who call with questions about civil liberties and human rights.  They receive hundreds of calls every year, and provide information or refer callers to other resources.

The Alberta Human Rights Act establishes the Alberta Human Rights Commission to carry out functions under the act. The Commission is an independent commission created by the Government of Alberta, which reports to the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. The Commission has a two-fold mandate: to foster equality and to reduce discrimination. It fulfills this mandate through public education and community initiatives, through the resolution and settlement of complaints of discrimination, and through human rights tribunal and court hearings.

Search for decisions that have been made through the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal using the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII).

The Alberta Human Rights Commission offers free, online resources available for anyone wanting to learn more about human rights and responsibilities. They also offer workshops and via the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA) online courses are available for anyone wanting to learn more about human rights and responsibilities. 

The Alberta Mental Health Patient Advocate is an independent, provincial investigative body legislated under the Mental Health Act. The Patient Advocate protects the rights of persons and investigates and resolves complaints related to the detention, treatment, care and rights of individuals subject to admission or renewal certificate/s or a community treatment order under the Act, and those acting on their behalf. The office also serves as a resource to the mental health community through education services and to policy and law makers by bringing a unique perspective

The Avon Global Center for Women and Justice at Cornell Law School works with judges, legal professionals, governmental and non-governmental organizations to improve access to justice in an effort to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Calgary Outlink: Center for Gender & Sexual Diversity strives to create healthy communities and brighter futures for LGBTQ+ individuals. They provide a safe community space equipped with support services, education opportunities, a support line, and access to resources.

The CCLA fights for the civil liberties, human rights, and democratic freedoms of all people across Canada. Founded in 1964, they are an independent, national, nongovernmental organization, working in the courts, before legislative committees, in the classrooms, and in the streets, protecting the rights and freedoms cherished by Canadians and entrenched in our Constitution.

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network is based in Montréal. It is the only national, community-based, charitable organization in Canada working exclusively in the area of policy and legal issues raised by HIV/AIDS. It was formed in November 1992 and has over 200 members across Canada and internationally.

The Commission’s business is to make the Canadian Human Rights Act work for the benefit of all Canadians. There are three main aspects to its work: To provide effective and timely means for resolving individual complaints; To promote knowledge of human rights in Canada and to encourage people to follow principles of equality; and to help reduce barriers to equality in employment and access to services. Their website includes sections with publications and frequently asked questions.The Commission provides dispute resolution services in cases of alleged discrimination by federally regulated organizations, including employers, unions and service providers. This online resource addresses issues such as alternative dispute resolution and the dispute resolution process.

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. The goal of this website is to provide housing workers and advocates across Canada with information and tools to enable them to overcome – using a human rights framework – the barriers that keep people from accessing and retaining adequate housing.

The Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) works to promote, protect and develop those human rights which serve as the foundation for or underpin democracy, including the rights to freedom of expression, to vote and participate in governance, to access information and to freedom of assembly and association. Their website provides access to reports, publications and papers relating to democracy rights. It also contains analyses of draft laws from various jurisdictions and outlines details of various projects in which the CLD is involved.

The mandate of the CCNC includes to promote the rights of all individuals, in particular, those of Chinese Canadians and to encourage their full and equal participation in Canadian society.

This guide was design for parents to prepare them for the conversations they may need to have with their kids when they first start using digital devices, as they grow and their online activities change, and when things go wrong. The guide is divided into three sections that each deal with a different aspect of digital citizenship:  Respect People’s Feelings, to Respect Privacy and to Respect Property online.

The Canadian Human Rights Act gives each of us an equal opportunity to work and live without being hindered by discriminatory practices. The Canadian Human Rights Commission is responsible to investigate and try to settle complaints of discrimination in employment and in the provision of services by federally regulated organizations. Information is provided about which organizations these are, and about the nature of discrimination and harassment and what can be done.

In this issue of English Express you will learn about human rights in Alberta with examples and illustrations. English Express uses simple and easy to understand English for anyone to understand their publication.(PDF – 23 pages)

These guidelines support the creation of welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that foster diversity and nurture a sense of belonging and a positive sense of self . Their purpose is to enable school authorities to use best practices in creating and supporting learning environments that respect diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. (January 2016)

This tipsheet is produced by the Stride Advocacy Project. The Project works to strengthen community based advocacy that relates and navigates systems and institutions while creating “access without fear” spaces for marginalized and low income Edmontonians.

This webpage from the Alberta Human Rights Commission’s website explains the rights and responsibilities of the Alberta Human Rights Act in the workplace.

Information includes how the Alberta Human Rights Act applies to the workplace, right and responsibilities of employees and employers, rights and responsibilities for trade unions and occupational associations, FAQs and resources related to the topic.

LawNow is a bi-monthly digital public legal education magazine which has been  published by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta for almost 40 years.  Its articles  and columns are written in plain language take a practical look at how the law relates to the every day lives of Canadians. In each issue, LawNow’s human rights column takes a look at a specific topic in this area of law and explains it clearly and concisely.

The Human Rights Research and Education Centre is an independent centre within the University of Ottawa. It comprises researchers specialized in law, social sciences and the arts. The Centre places a particular emphasis on issues of public policy concerning peace, migration and immigration, health, environment, international trade and investment, poverty and vulnerable groups.

The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights is a non-profit human rights organization located in Edmonton, Alberta, dedicated to human rights education. Named after the late John Peters Humphrey, the principal drafter of the United Nation Declaration of Human Rights, the Centre’s mission is to advance the universal implementation of human rights through teaching and education of all people, with a specific focus on children and youth.

This information sheet is provides Albertans with information on the legal rights of people with mental or physical disabilities.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a National Indigenous Organization representing the political voice of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people in Canada, inclusive of First Nations on and off reserve, status and non-status, disenfranchised, Métis and Inuit. NWAC works on a variety of issues such as employment, labour and business, health, violence prevention and safety, justice and human rights, environment, early learning childcare and international affairs.

Pivot’s mandate is to use the law to address the root causes of poverty and social exclusion. Pivot carries out its work through legal campaigns around policing, housing, and sex work that would result in meaningful positive change for people living in poverty.

This web site from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology is dedicated to providing students and scholars alike with an information hub for existing Canadian hate crime literature. One can navigate through the links on this site to find summaries of books, academic papers, conference proceedings, and organization and government reports that have addressed the issue of hate crime in Canada. Additional sections provide information about national and international anti-hate crime organizations.

Status of Women Canada (SWC) is a federal government organization that promotes the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada. SWC works to advance equality for women and to remove the barriers to women’s participation in society, putting particular emphasis on increasing women’s economic security and eliminating violence against women.

An online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. Learn about and become involved in issues related to Social justice and human rights, Poverty and globalization, Peace and conflict, Environment, Cultural diversity and equity, Education, Health and wellness. The site also includes a special section for educators.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects a number of rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and the right to equality. It forms part of our Constitution – the highest law in all of Canada – and is one of our country’s greatest accomplishments. Learn about the Charter, access learning resources and order a copy of the Charter.

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The full text appears on this webpage.