Human Rights

In Memoriam: Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique, murdered 23 April 2016
- April 20, 2017
By Ruth Bradley-St-Cyr

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a …
By CIPS
Asia, Democracy, Human Rights
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The New Colossus
- March 30, 2017
by Ruth Bradley-St-Cyr

“Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” The words inscribed at the base of the statue of Liberty are famous, and yet hardly anyone knows that they are from a sonnet …
By CIPS
Human Rights, Refugees, USA
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Humanitarian Action on the Front Lines
- March 1, 2017
by Dominik Stillhart

The ICRC is mandated by the international community to assist and protect those affected by conflict or violence, including promoting international humanitarian law, monitoring respect for that law, and assisting people affected by war. This mandate reflects …
By CIPS
Fragile States, Human Rights, International Law
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Why Trump Should Cause Us All to Rethink Our Policies
- February 1, 2017
As Donald Trump makes it clear that he is intent on pursuing his rash and racist agenda come what may, we might be tempted to stand back, count our blessings, and try to minimize the damage.

We need to be …
By Jacqueline Best
Human Rights, USA
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Why a small meeting of far-right delegates in Europe shouldn’t go unnoticed
- January 23, 2017
The day following President Donald Trump’s inauguration was marked by the Women’s March on Washington and hundreds of “sister marches” in cities around the world — a global display of disapproval for the new US leader and his retrograde understanding …
By Srdjan Vucetic
Europe, Human Rights
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The Liberal Democratic World Order Is Falling Apart
- January 13, 2017
As a new year opens across the globe, the post-Second-World-War order and the global rule of law are losing out to the rule of individual men. From Russia to China to the EU, authoritarian rule is tightening its grip.

In …
By Errol Mendes
Democracy, Human Rights, International Security
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Trump’s election makes US human rights pariah
- November 16, 2016
The election of Donald Trump as US President poses a grave threat to human rights — in the US and worldwide. To meet this threat, the global human rights movement, and in particular its US components, must reprioritize and refocus …
By David Petrasek
Human Rights, USA
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Spreading the Vote: Canada and International Democracy Assistance
- July 11, 2016
Part one, and the introduction, to a series of blogs about Canadian democracy assistance around the world.

by Gabrielle Bardall

The commitment to democracy and human rights is at the core of Canadian values. The institutions and processes of Canadian …
By Gabrielle Bardall
Canadian Foreign Policy, Democracy, Human Rights
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Welcoming Syrians, detaining others
- December 8, 2015
By Philippe Bourbeau

The newly elected Trudeau government seems to be moving quickly on one of its promises made during the federal election campaign: to accept 25,000 Syrians by January 1, 2016.

On November 9, while announcing the formation of …
By CIPS
Human Rights, Middle East, Refugees
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Working Group Report on Human Rights in Canadian Foreign Policy
- November 9, 2015
A new Canadian government has been elected. What should it do to promote human rights in its foreign policy? How can Canada best contribute to global efforts to protect human rights? CIPS convened a working group of seasoned policy experts …
By CIPS
Human Rights
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C-51 Has Sparked A Much-Needed Conversation About Security and Rights
- March 27, 2015
Published in the Globe and Mail, March 25, 2015

The best thing that might come out of Bill C-51, the government’s proposed new anti-terrorism legislation, will not be the bill itself, certainly not if it passes through the House …
By Wesley Wark
Human Rights, International Security
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How Dangerous is C-51? You Might Be Surprised
- March 22, 2015
by Michael Geist

Published in the Toronto Star, March 13, 2015

As witnesses line up to warn about the dangers associated with Bill C-51, Canada’s anti-terrorism bill, it’s increasingly clear that the proposed legislation is an unprecedented undermining of …
By CIPS
Defence and Intelligence, Human Rights, International Security
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