As Canada’s national human rights institution, the Commission is responsible for: holding the government to account on ensuring that it fulfills its international human rights obligations at home; monitoring how well Canada is abiding by international human rights treaties; and speaking out where Canada is falling short. In 2018, we did this during Canada’s 3rd Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council, and during Canada’s review before the UN Committee Against Torture.
We also work with the international human rights community help promote human rights worldwide, and to help other national human rights institutions build their capacity to hold their own governments to account. By contributing this advice and expertise to the international community, the Commission influences how Canada’s human rights performance is seen on the world stage, and helps ensure that our government lives up to its human rights commitments to all people in Canada.