Pursuing Justice
Recent Highlights - April/May 2017

From Executive Director Judith Abitan &
Director of Projects Brandon Silver


RWCHR Chair Irwin Cotler Honoured by Canadian Civil Liberties Association
RWCHR Founder and Chair Irwin Cotler was recently honoured by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) at its Gala for Freedom. In awarding him the CCLA's prestigious prize for excellence in advocacy, Executive Director Sukanya Pillay highlighted that in his varied roles as academic, parliamentarian, Minister of Justice/Attorney General - and now Chair of the RWCHR - Hon. Cotler has always been driven by and given expression to a singular paradigm: pursuing justice.
  RWCHR Promotes Landmark Legislation for Justice
Parliament moves ahead with historic Magnitsky Global Justice and  Accountability Sanctions Framework
Following a major campaign engaged by the RWCHR, the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee issued a unanimous report calling on the Canadian government to adopt a human rights sanctions framework. This important initiative gives expression to the imperative of combatting the culture of impunity and holding human rights violators accountable. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland announced the Government's support for this justice initiative, crediting RWCHR Chair Irwin Cotler with its success.


To read more:
  CLICK HERE &  HERE

   RWCHR Leads Major Advocacy Campaign 
Unprecedented Campaign for human rights in Venezuela wins support of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and All Parties

On May 17th, the RWCHR hosted a major advocacy initiative in Ottawa as part of its ongoing campaign for the protection of human rights and restoration of democracy in Venezuela.

Chair Irwin Cotler serves as international legal counsel to imprisoned Venezuelan Democratic Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez, and the RWCHR has taken up his case and cause. The RWCHR hosted Leopoldo's wife Lilian Tintori (pictured with Justin Trudeau) and his mother Antonieta Lopez. 


Landmark initiatives that day included:
  • Meetings with Government Ministers

  • Meeting with Leader of the Official Opposition

  • Meeting with Leader of the NDP

  • Briefing of leading Parliamentarians from all parties

  • Meeting with Parliamentary Secretaries for Foreign Affairs


  • Press Conference with the Raoul Wallenberg All-Party Parliamentary Caucus for Human Rights, wherein over 20 000 people tuned in online

  • Television interview on CBC's flagship Power and Politics program 

  • Panel discussion hosted in partnership with the University of Ottawa Human Rights Centre and a consortium of leading civil society organizations from across the country.  

Read More:

Lilian Tintori's Op-Ed in the Globe and Mail:  CLICK HERE

Selected coverage: 

Watch TV Interview: 

Watch message from Hon. Cotler:  CLICK HERE
   RWCHR Hosts Historic Global Conference on Human Rights
Heroes of Humanity from Around the World Join Together in Common Cause at Major Human Rights Gathering

On the occasion of Canada's 150th anniversary, and Montreal's 375th, the RWCHR partnered with leading civil society organizations to host the historic "Rights City" conference weekend, which brought together inspiring human rights activists from around the world. 

Conference highlights included a panel discussion between Lt. General Romeo Dallaire and Hon. Irwin Cotler, titled "A Conversation with Human Rights Champions."
Special guests of the weekend events included leaders of Canada's indigenous rights movement, U.S. artist and activist Alicia Keys, and Mauritanian anti-slavery leader Biram Dah Abeid. Biram had previously been imprisoned for his transformative advocacy, wherein RWCHR Chair Cotler served as his international legal counsel to secure his freedom. Biram's work was recently recognized by Time Magazine, which named him one of the World's 100 most influential people.


Read More:

Time Magazine Profile :  CLICK HERE

La Presse interview [French]:  CLICK HERE

Watch Special Television Broadcast on Rights City:  CLICK HERE

Iran Accountability Week - Advocacy in Solidarity with Iranian People
Following RWCHR initiative, Parliament Condemns Iranian Regime and Calls for Canadian Government Action
This year, the RWCHR continued its advocacy in solidarity with the people and public of Iran, playing an instrumental role in the annual Iran Accountability Week. In its engagements with Parliamentarians, the Centre highlighted in particular the case and cause of the Baha'i, who are subject to institutionalized discrimination and state-sanctioned repression for their peaceful religious beliefs.

RWCHR Chair Cotler testified both before the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Human Rights, which subsequently adopted a powerful statement in solidarity with Iranians and calling on the Canadian Government to take action against the Regime for its continued assault on the rights of the Iranian people.

Read More:

Testimony: CLICK HERE

Committee Statement: CLICK HERE 
30th Anniversary of the War Crimes Section
RWCHR Chair Irwin Cotler Keynotes Historic 30th Anniversary Commemoration of the Department of Justice's War Crimes Section
Cotler's remarks to the overflowing crowd underscored the importance of the Section's work, and laid out a set of principles and policies that must guide its endeavours. Throughout his career at the forefront of the pursuit of justice and accountability, Hon Cotler's work has had a transformative effect on the work of the Department in combatting the culture of impunity. 
Indeed, as a Professor of international law at McGill University, Hon. Cotler had highlighted Canada's complicity in the impunity that enabled perpetrators of crimes against humanity, and helped to initiate and then intervened before the Government's Deschenes Commission of inquiry on the issue. His involvements ultimately led to the Commission's recommendation for the establishment of the War Crimes Section of the Department.

Later, as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Hon. Cotler prioritized the pursuit of international justice, and initiated the first-ever prosecutions under the War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Act. His interventions in the landmark Mugesera case established the important principle and precedent that the very incitement to genocide constitutes the crime whether or not acts of genocide follow. 
Acts of Remembrance and Remembrances to Act: Rwanda
In commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide, the RWCHR participated in an Ottawa memorial with the Rwandan Embassy, and hosted a commemoration with leading civil society groups at the McGill University Faculty of Law.

Participants honoured the memory of the victims of the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsis, and the message of those who survived. They reflected upon the particularities of the Genocide, and the universal resonance of its lessons. RWCHR Chair Irwin Cotler highlighted that what makes the Rwandan Genocide so unspeakable is that it was preventable, "we knew, but we did not act." He underscored that every individual has the capacity to make a difference - evidenced by the lessons and legacy of Raoul Wallenberg - and must always stand up and speak out against injustice. In the face of contemporary crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, we must learn the lessons of the past and give expression to them - taking action - in order to build a future where justice prevails. 

Special PBS TV Broadcast on Landmark RWCHR Symposium 
In a powerful act of remembrance and reminder - on the occasion of Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month - the PBS Television Network aired a historic broadcast of the RWCHR's major conference on the Holocaust and Genocide: Justice and Accountability at Vanier College. 

Thousands of people from across North America were engaged - if not inspired - by Conference programming, which was streamed live in high school and college classrooms in Canada and the United States, in addition to the special television broadcast.

To read more:

Major Parliamentary Film Screening for Human Rights
The RWCHR held a major All-Party parliamentary film screening of the documentary "Bleeding Edge" and panel on the subject of forced organ Harvesting in China.

Along with many members of the public, the RWCHR was joined by Ms. Anastasia Lin (film's lead actress, Miss World Canada 2015, and noted human rights campaigner), leading Members of Parliament from all political parties, and the Falon Gong community, a group that has been a targeted victim of forced organ harvesting solely for their compassionate religious beliefs.

Inspired by the film and anchored in the call for justice, those in attendance advanced an action agenda for a Canadian governmental, parliamentary and civil society role in the protection and promotion of human rights. Specifically, this included support for MP Garnett Genuis' Bill to combat forced organ Harvesting, which was based on the prior legislation of RWCHR Chair Irwin Cotler.

To read more:

  RWCHR Leads Rally for Imprisoned Saudi Blogger    
Raif Badawi

On the eve of the 5th anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi, RWCHR Director of Projects spoke at a rally for his release. 

Sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years imprisonment for starting a blog, RWCHR Chair Irwin Cotler is acting as international legal counsel to secure Badawi's release, and the Centre has taken up his case and cause.

For video of the rally (remarks by RWCHR Director of Projects Brandon Silver):
CLICK HERE 
Other Selected Initiatives:
  • RWCHR Chair Irwin Cotler delivered the keynote lecture at the Kean University Holocaust and Human Rights Remembrance Ceremony. The annual memorial brings together the academic and student communities, along with members of the New Jersey Holocaust Commission and members of the public from New Jersey and New York. To read more:CLICK HERE

  • Director of Projects Brandon Silver delivered remarks as a special invited guest at the Lower Canada College Destiny Quebec Conference. Students and educators from across Quebec were inspired to stand up and speak out for justice, grounded in the lessons and legacy of Raoul Wallenberg - how one person can make a difference.

  • Participated in a major Lord Reading Law Society event, wherein RWCHR Chair Cotler delivered remarks with former Prime Minister Jean Chretien (pictured here with Ariela Cotler).

  • Sponsored an important human rights film screening and panel discussion at Concordia University's Cinema Politica.  It featured the CBC documentary "Inside These Walls," about the plight and pain of imprisoned Chinese Pro-democracy Leader Wang Bingzhang, for whom RWCHR Chair Irwin Cotler serves as international counsel and whose case and cause the Centre has taken up. Wang Bingzhang's family and the film's producers led the panel discussion that followed the documentary.

  • Participated in leading projects of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and engaged in high-level meetings with directors re working together in common cause.
  • Chair Cotler delivered the Shindleman Lecture of the Canadian Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, where he spoke on "Global Antisemitism & International Terrorism."  Read more: CLICK HERE 

  • Cotler delivered keynote address at major Toronto legal education forum, held at the offices of Fasken Martineau.

  • Cotler delivered the Goldbloom Memorial Lecture, where he spoke on the legacy of Dr. Victor Goldbloom and the importance of building bridges and promoting human rights. Read more: CLICK HERE
  • Cotler was a guest of honour and speaker at the Syrian Kids Foundation Gala

  • Cotler signed and the RWCHR endorsed the Prague Appeal for Democratic Renewal. Read More: CLICK HERE
Other High-level Meetings in the Pursuit of Justice Included:
  • Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland (pictured)

  • Minister of Justice Jody-Wilson Raybould

  • Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale

  • Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre

  • World Jewish Congress President Ambassador Ronald Lauder

  • United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and former Maldives Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed

  • Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations Marc-Andre Blanchard

  • Canadian Ambassador to Norway and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Artur Wilczynski

  • Garo Paylan, leading opposition parliamentarian countering Turkey's authoritarianism
For a review of the Centre's first year of activities:
click here 

For highlights of our pursuit of justice in 2016: 

For our most recent newsletter: