Human Rights: Websites

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects a number of rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and the right to equality. It forms part of our Constitution – the highest law in all of Canada – and is one of our country’s greatest accomplishments.

Canadian Civil Liberties Association - CCLA actively stands up to power by fighting against rights violations, abuse of police powers, inequality, and discrimination. We stand for freedom, equality, and a better future for all people in Canada.

Canadian Human Rights Commission - The Canadian Human Rights Commission is Canada's national human rights institution.

Canadian Museum For Human Rights - Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the first museum solely dedicated to the evolution, celebration and future of human rights.

Ontario Human Rights Commission - The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) was established as an arm’s length agency of government in 1961 to prevent discrimination and to promote and advance human rights in Ontario.

International Human Rights - Government of Canada - Learn how Canada promotes and protects human rights and reflects Canadian values on the international stage.

The Advocates for Human Rights - Founded in 1983, The Advocates for Human Rights started with a group of lawyers seeking to leverage Minnesota's spirit of social justice to promote and protect human rights worldwide.

Amnesty International - Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who are committed to creating a future where human rights are enjoyed by everyone.

Berkeley’s Human Rights Center - "We collaborate with communities, build blueprintable solutions to address some of the most significant human rights challenges of our time, and support efforts to hold perpetrators accountable. We function as a bridge between the worlds of academia, policy, and practice."

Council of Europe - Human Rights - Mission: To promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law across Europe and beyond.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Reports submitted by the U.S. Dept. of State to the U.S. Congress

Electronic Frontier Foundation - The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world.

Human Rights First - Established in 1978, Human Rights First's mission is to ensure that the United States is a global leader on human rights. The organization works in the United States and abroad to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Human Rights Watch - Human Rights Watch investigates and reports on abuses happening in all corners of the world.

Human Rights Internet - Search human rights web sites by content, issues, keywords, geographical focus. Also includes Human Rights Mailing Lists.

INCORE (Initiative on Conflict Resolution and Ethnicity) - Provides annotated lists of resources relating to human rights, conflict, and ethnicity for 42 countries. This includes news, email lists and newsgroups, articles and documents, maps, NGOs, and other related resources. Over two hundred full-text peace agreements can also be accessed via an interactive map.

Physicians for Human Rights - For more than 35 years, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has used science and the uniquely credible voices of medical professionals to document and call attention to severe human rights violations around the world.

Project Diana - Project Diana is a comprehensive and authoritative online human rights database.

University of Minnesota Human Rights Library - Very comprehensive and well-designed site. Use graphical browser.

Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women - Since 1976, CRIAW-ICREF has been researching and documenting the economic and social situation of women in Canada.

The National Council of Women of Canada - Founded in 1893 by Lady Ishbel Aberdeen, the NCWC has been at the forefront of advocacy for women's rights and social issues for over a century.

Women's Human Rights Resources (University of Toronto, Bora Laskin Law Library) - Articles, documents and links to other web sites on aspects of women's human rights.

Association for Women's Rights in Development - For 40 years, AWID has been a part of an incredible ecosystem of feminist movements working to achieve gender justice and women’s human rights worldwide.

Center for Reproductive Rights - The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization of attorneys and advocates working to ensure reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights for the dignity, equality, health, and well-being of every person.

Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era - DAWN is a network of feminist scholars, researchers and activists from the economic South working for economic and gender justice and sustainable and democratic development.

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation - Founded in 1985, GLAAD is a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change. GLAAD works to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation and creates national and local programs that advance LGBTQ acceptance.

Global Alliance for Women's Health - The Global Alliance for Women's Health is a trusted, multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to identifying and closing the women's health gap.

Human Rights Campaign - The HRC is an American LGBTQ advocacy group. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for LGBTQ individuals, including advocating for same-sex marriage, anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation, and HIV/AIDS advocacy.

International Center for Research on Women - Founded in 1976 in response to concerns that international development interventions were benefiting men and women unequally, ICRW was established to make visible the invisible.

International Council of Women - Ever since its establishment in 1888, the organization has been at the forefront of bringing worldwide attention to the issue of women’s rights and leading the battle against gender based social injustice.

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - ILGA World is a worldwide federation of more than 2,000 organisations from over 170 countries and territories campaigning for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people.

Fòs Feminista - Fòs Feminista is an intersectional feminist organization centered around the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse people.

National Organization for Women (US) - NOW is a multi-issue, multi-strategy organization that takes a holistic approach to women’s rights.

Outright International - Outright is dedicated to working with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the LGBTIQ human rights movement, document and amplify human rights violations against LGBTIQ people, and advocate for inclusion and equality.

Women In Development Europe+ - WIDE+, is a European feminist network of feminist activists and organizations, women’s rights advocates, gender specialists, migrant women associations, as well as other NGOs that promote an intersectional feminism as part of their overall goal of promoting human rights and sustainable development.

African Canadian Association of Waterloo Region & Area - The ACAWRA is dedicated to fostering community, culture, and connection among African Canadians through various programs and initiatives.

Federation of Black Canadians - the FBC seeks to discuss the opportunities, contributions, and challenges that exist for people of African descent nationally.

National Council of Asian Canadians - The NCAC is committed to confronting anti-Asian racism and hate, and to breaking down the systemic barriers that have long limited the full and fair participation of Asian Canadians in every aspect of society.

Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada - Article from the Canadian Encyclopedia

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights - The African Charter established the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Commission was inaugurated on 2 November 1987 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

American Civil Liberties Union - The ACLU has evolved in the years since from a small group of idealists into the nation’s premier defender of the rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

American Indian Policy Institute - The American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI), a college-level unit within ASU’s Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, focuses on building strong ties to Indigenous urban and rural governments and communities through emerging trends and tribally driven innovative democratic practices.

Asian Human Rights Commission - The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) was founded in 1984 by a prominent group of jurists and human rights activists in Asia. The AHRC is an independent, non-governmental body, which seeks to promote greater awareness and realisation of human rights in the Asian region, and to mobilise Asian and international public opinion to obtain relief and redress for the victims of human rights violations.

Center for World Indigenous Studies - For over 40 years, CWIS has been the leading Indigenous peoples’ think tank ensuring that communities can safeguard their rights and resources.

Civil Rights Movement - Library of Congress - Primary source timeline from the LoC.

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs - Since 1968, IWGIA has cooperated with Indigenous organisations and international institutions to promote the recognition and implementation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. IWGIA promotes and defends Indigenous Peoples through documentation, supporting empowerment, and advocacy interventions on local, regional and international levels.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - NAACP is an American civil rights organization formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans

Native American Rights Fund - Since 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) has provided legal assistance to Native American tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide who might otherwise have gone without adequate representation.

Asian Canadians - Wikipedia - This is a great place to start your pre-research investigations - do not use Wikipedia as source, and cross check any information you discover.

Black Canadians - Wikipedia - This is a great place to start your pre-research investigations - do not use Wikipedia as source, and cross check any information you discover.

Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal - The CWRP provides access to up-to-date research on Canadian child welfare programs and policies.

Children First Canada - Children First Canada is a national charity that aspires to create a country where children can grow up free from the barriers that prevent them from achieving their full potential – starting with the protection of their most basic rights to childhood.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

UNICEF - How We Protect Children's Rights with the UNCRC

Defence for Children International - DCI is a leading child rights-focused and membership-based grassroots movement founded in 1979. Its mandate is to ensure effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) at the local, national and international level.

European Youth Forum - The European Youth Forum is the biggest platform of youth organisations in Europe, representing over 100 youth organisations, which bring together tens of millions of young people from all over Europe. The European Youth Forum works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives and advocates for their rights.

International Juvenile Justice Observatory - The IJJO was established by the Board of Trustees of Fundación Diagrama in 2003 as an autonomous non-profit organisation within the internal structure of Fundación Diagrama. Its work focuses on addressing the issues faced by children and young people in conflict with the law.

World Assembly of Youth - WAY is the international coordinating body of national youth councils and national youth organisations. WAY works for promotion of young people and youth organisations in programme areas such as: education, employment, environment, human rights, democracy, population, health, drugs, peace, gender equality, community development, and leadership training.​​

Rights of People with Disabilities - Government of Canada - Canada seeks to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for people with disabilities, to ensure their full participation in our society.

Accessible Canada Act - An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada.

AIDE Canada - Canada's largest resource hub for content catered to the autistic, neurodivergent, or people with ID communities.

Disability Rights Canada - This website is an awareness resource designed to increase knowledge within Canada's community of people with disabilities about the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Disability Justice Network of Ontario - The Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO) aims to build a just and accessible Ontario.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

Disability Rights (HRW) - Human Rights Watch works to investigate and expose these hidden abuses, and advocate for change to improve the lives of people with disabilities, in partnership with them and their organizations across the globe.

Disability Rights International - DRI was established in 1993 by attorney Eric Rosenthal. Based in Washington DC, DRI documents human rights abuses, publishes reports on human rights enforcement, and promotes international oversight of the rights of people with disabilities.

Lives Worth Living (Video) - Directed by Eric Neudel, Premiered October 27, 2011

National Disability Rights Network - The only legally based advocacy organization established by Congress to protect the rights of all individuals with disabilities. As part of that mandate, our network includes agencies in every state and U.S. territory, working to provide legal protection and advocacy services for people with disabilities.

National Organization on Disability - Founded in 1982, NOD is building a society where people of all abilities can find work, earn a fair wage, and advance in their careers.

Society for Disability Studies - A non-profit organization that promotes the study of disability in social, cultural, and political contexts.

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights - the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations.

UN Human Rights Office - Home page for the UNHRO.

United Nations - Protect Human Rights

United Nations - Human Rights Resolutions Portal - The Human Rights Resolution Portal provides information on, and access to, all resolutions ever passed by the Human Rights Council, and all resolutions adopted by the General Assembly's Third Committee since 2006.

United Nations - Human Rights - Office of the High Commissioner

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

General UN Resources

United Nations News - News articles and press releases about the UN.

United Nations Home Page

UN Member States on the Record - Participation records of all UN members.

UN Official Documents System - Database of official UN publications. Contains full-text, born-digital UN documents published from 1993 onward, including documents of the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiaries, as well as administrative issuances and other documents. Click here for an explanation of UN Document Symbols.

United Nations Digital Library - The Dag Hammarskjöld Library creates content, data and metadata related to UN information, resources, publications, and documents. Products include: bibliographic metadata, Index to Proceedings, Index to Speeches, Voting Records, UNBIS Thesaurus, research guides and frequently asked questions. UNDL Help page.

UNDL Research Guides - Guides on various topics to help you find the right documents.

UNBIS Thesaurus - The UNBIS Thesaurus is a multilingual database of the controlled vocabulary used to describe UN documents and other materials in the Library's collection.

UN Data - Statistics from the United Nations.

United Nations and the Rule of Law - Home page for the UN Rule of Law Unit.