Canada Campaigns
Canada: British Columbia’s proposed legislation (Bill 21) violates international human rights law and standards on independence of the legal profession
10/04/2024
Note: LRWC's 10 April 2024 letter and brief were published before LRWC was aware of the almost simultaneous tabling of Bill 21 in the British Columbia (BC) legislature on 10 April 2024. See LRWC's analysis of Bill 21 in its briefing paper of 17 April 2024. LRWC sent a 12 April 2024 follow up … [Read more...]
The global problem of enforced disappearances: “Outside all protection of the law” | Written statement submitted to the UN Human Rights Council
23/01/2024
Written statement submitted by Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status. Peacemakers Trust, The 29 Principles, Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, Colombian Caravana, Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre, NGOs without consultative status, … [Read more...]
Enforced disappearances: “Every minute counts” | Joint submission to UN CED and WGEID
15/08/2023
Full pdf submission On 15 August 2023, LRWC joined a submission to the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance (CED) and the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance (WGEID). The submission, was initiated by Peacemakers Trust and is also endorsed by the Colombian Caravana, The 29 … [Read more...]
Canada: Concern about BC government intrusion on independence of the legal profession: BC Attorney General’s “Legal Professions Regulatory Modernization General Intentions Paper” | LRWC Statement
18/11/2022
Update: see LRWC's continuing concerns in April 2024. Statement on the British Columbia Legal Professions Regulatory Modernization General Intentions Paper, September 2022 Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada[*] 18 November 2022 Full statement below. To enlarge the Table of Contents and see the … [Read more...]
Policy Complaint Concerning RCMP C-IRG unit behaviour at Argenta-Johnson’s Landing
21/07/2022
LRWC and six other groups submitted a Joint Complaint to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission of the RCMP requesting an investigation of allegedly unlawful and arbitrary arrests on 17 May 2022 by the Critical Incident Response Group (C-IRG) of the RCMP in British Columbia. The Joint … [Read more...]
Canada: Civil society groups call for robust inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act | Joint statement
15/04/2022
Full pdf joint statement: EN, FR. See press release by CCLA Statement: Inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act We are representatives of major civil society organizations and social movements from across Canada. Individually and collectively, we represent the interests of many … [Read more...]
Canada: Gidimt’en land defenders made a submission to UN about ongoing rights violations by BC and Canada | Press release and submission
07/02/2022
See full .pdf submission to the UN (EN) Scroll down for the list of signatories and 26 endorsing organizations, including LRWC. Gidimt’en land defenders make submission to United Nations about ongoing rights violations by BC and Canada; Urge UN to visit Wet’suwet’en … [Read more...]
Canada: Unlawful attacks on Indigenous land rights defenders in Wet’suwet’en Territory | Letter
15/12/2021
Full .pdf letter [See errata *]. On 15 December 2021 LRWC wrote to Canadian and British Columbia authorities expressing concern about "allegations of unlawful use of force by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) against Wet’suwet’en people and their invitees during the enforcement of a court … [Read more...]
Celebrate International Human Rights Day by joining or donating to LRWC
08/12/2021
Promoting human rights by protecting those who defend them Your membership dues & other donations make LRWC’s work possible. In 2021, celebrate the work of human rights lawyers and defenders by joining or donating to LRWC. LRWC membership fees and donations ensure needed support for our … [Read more...]
British Columbia, Canada: Withdraw amendments to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act | Joint letter
27/10/2021
Full joint letter (pdf) | See FIPA's webpage for more information Update 1 November 2021: See a Note by the Centre for Law and Democracy with in-depth assessments of proposed amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) On 26 October 2021, Lawyers' Rights … [Read more...]
