Any suggestion by the government that the CORE was “ineffective” is beyond disingenuous. The shortcomings lie in the government’s failure/refusal for 7 years to grant the CORE the full investigative powers that had been promised at the outset. cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-…

Without justice, impunity carries the day, and rights protection remains tenous. We welcome this important step towards justice, something Venezuelans have been denied for many long years. #VZFFM

Gaza, DRC, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti ... Around the world, children are bearing the brunt - increasingly so - of a violent world in which fundamental rules around civilian protection, and keeping children out of harms way, are collapsing. Writing with @SaveChildrenCan's @DGlenwright, we call on Canada to up its game and show leadership in pushing back. The world as it is? Not on our watch. savethechildren.ca/the-war-o…

Get ready Canada. And beyond. Such a crucial conversation at such a critical time, with a truly brilliant human rights advocate. #HousingInc Best Masseys ever! Can’t wait. @leilanifarha cbc.ca/radio/ideas/2026-mass…

#Tiananmen It has been 37 years. And not only has their never been truth, let alone justice, for the horrorific massacres of that day. Not only. 37 years later the injustice deepens and expands, as the Chinese government's determination to rewrite and erase history knows no bounds. And the brave mothers, artists, human rights activists, students and others who refuse to let that be are threatened, arrested, jailed and abused. We can never forget. There must be truth. And there must be justice. theguardian.com/world/2026/j…

"We know we’re better and stronger together." Please join me in signing the @ccrweb's Open Letter to PM Mark Carney, urging him and his government to reinforce Canada's national & international commitment to refugee protection at a particularly critical time. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the voices of intolerance, racism & hate which vilify refugees & migrants. They are loud, they surround us, and they feel to be growing. But let us not forget they are not the majority. We are. But if we remain silent, if we do not raise our voices, hate fills those empty spaces. Signing a letter may not feel enough (and be sure, your action need not stop there). But it is something; something very important in fact. For words matter so very much in a world of lies & disinformation. The PM needs to hear your words, our words; of compassion, community, solidarity & rights. All of which have never been more important. All of which lie in our hands. bettertogethercanada.ca/week…

More trade if "relations stay the course". We can be sure that means no space to talk about human rights. And of course there have been no opportuniites for media questions while Minister Wang Yi has been in Ottawa. As you ready for your ministerial hike in Gatineau Park tomorrow @AnitaAnandMP, the Canadian Coalition for Human Rights in China is still looking to you to press the recommendations in our Open Letter: raoulwallenbergcentre.org/en…. That includes demanding the release of Huseyin Celil, Jimmy Lai & Wang Bingzhang from unjust imprisonment, and raising ongoing concerns about the Chinese government's foreign interference in Canada. theglobeandmail.com/politics…

Big win for human rights! Groundbreaking Ontario Superior Court ruling extends the Charter's section 15 equality protection to people living in homelessness: "The homeless are not Other. They are Us." Extensive reliance on Canada's international human rights obligations. Gratitude & respect to all who made this so. housingrights.ca/waterloo-de…

Encouraging to see strong support for the ICJ's Advisory Opinion on the climate crisis in this UNGA resolution. Predictable, disappointing & absurdly farcical that international law naysayers and geopolitical & even battlefield enemies - including the US, Iran, Israel, Russia and Saudi Arabia - find common cause in voting no. theguardian.com/environment/…

The antithesis of principled or thoughtful leadership. The embodiment of irresponsible & destabilizing leadersip that panders to division, greed, fearmongering & contempt for Indigenous rights. @ABDanielleSmith never should have opportunistically (blatantly so) given space for this to have reached this stage. And as Alberta born and first-fourteen-years raised all I can say is: stay. This country is worth it. cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/…

Very much appreciate this timely, comprehensive letter to PM Carney from 190 former Canadian diplomats. They write with a "strong sense of urgency about the need for immediate action, in concert with our European partners, to halt the Israeli government's stated intention to annex the West Bank; and the need to bring an end to its daily attacks against innocent civilians in Gaza and Lebanon." Their thoughtful recommendations for immediate action by the Canadian government: - inform the Israeli government of Canada's intention to undertake an immediate review of the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA), including the application of rules of origin to exclude coverage of products from the illegal settlements; - notify Israel of Canada's intention to terminate the Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership MOU within six months, should the government continue to support the expansion of settlements in the West Bank; - expand economic and travel sanctions to include any Israeli cabinet member, member of the Knesset, government official, settler, or organization that promotes violence against Palestinians or the seizure of their land; - take legal action against Canadian companies that bid on or participate in construction projects in the settlements; - announce Canada's unequivocal support for, and implementation of, decisions and actions taken by the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice regarding allegations of war crimes and genocidal acts in the region; - strengthen bilateral relations with the State of Palestine including increased support to the Palestinian Authority and other civil institutions through training and technical assistance with a particular focus in the areas of governance, finance, the judiciary and security; - appoint a Special Envoy to coordinate with international partners in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to advance support for a negotiated twostate solution with a requirement to report semi-annually to Parliament on the situation; - accelerate efforts by the Canada Revenue Agency to revoke the charitable status of all entities supporting illegal settlements or facilitating recruitment or funding for the Israel Defence Forces; - collaborate with international partners to support non-governmental organizations providing protective accompaniment and legal advocacy to Palestinians facing settler violence in the West Bank; and - advocate with partners to lift Israel's restrictions on Non-Governmental Organizations and journalists in Gaza to ensure effective aid delivery and independent reporting. theglobeandmail.com/gift/1dc…

Vancouver friends, Thursday's event has been moved to a larger venue. Hope you are able to join me for this timely conversation with @CCMS_SFU's Amyn Sajoo. “We see the rise of mass atrocities, including genocide — and seeming paralysis to do anything. Why this failure? Where does it leave our commitment to universal human rights and the rule of law? If “our public square is loud, diverse & free,” as PM Carney proclaimed at Davos, do citizens voices count in holding Canada to account, at home and abroad?" events.sfu.ca/event/48346-be…

Amidst all the lawlessness, violence, repression & geopoliticking, a clarion call for justice for a courageous human rights champion whose conviction & struggle has inspired the world. #FreeNargesMohammadi theguardian.com/global-devel…

Looking forward to joining the Salt Spring Forum this Wednesday, in conversation with the wonderful Carolyn McAskie about the state of human rights in our world, and the power we all have to be change agents. gulfislandsdriftwood.com/for…