Let's celebrate together the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations’ UDHR

Megan Lukasewich, President of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights

The John Humphrey Centre works to advance dignity, freedom, justice, and security through collaborative relationships and transformative education on peace and human rights. Our roots date as far back as 1966 when our namesake, John Peters Humphrey, the principal drafter of the United Nations Universal Declaration for Human Rights, returned to Canada from the UN after seeing the Declaration become international law. This occurred through the International Bill of Rights that includes the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights & Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights. Upon his return to Canada, his commitment was to advance these important values through human rights education. He started up an organization called the Human Rights Education Foundation, of which a western arm was found here in Edmonton. 

In 1998, on the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration, Edmonton hosted the largest international conference, with over 700 delegates, from 34 countries with notables such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson. The John Humphrey Centre then became its own independent organization committed to promulgating the values of the Declaration, primarily through human rights education and research.  Since 1998, the Centre has been a catalyst for important conversations and action on human rights building numerous resources to support educators; such as the beautiful Paint the Rails book.

There is a lot of exciting work happening with the John Humphrey Centre. As we approach 2023 and the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), we are proud to be collaborating with Canadians for a Civil Society to plan a conference in late 2023. From December 1-10, 2023, partners will host a series of events to bring together civil society, academics and decision makers in dialogue, learning and action on human rights. This ten day campaign will profile and facilitate public discourse on the principles and values instilled within the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Our hope is that we will walk away with a strengthened commitment, confidence and capacity for a movement of action towards the advancement of dignity, justice, peace, and freedom. 

Call for Programming Partners

The planning of a conference of this size and scope involves a collaboration of diverse partners. This ten day campaign will involve centred themes, integrating various methods of engagement including keynote speakers, panel discussions, roundtables, workshops and other activities engaging popular education, skills building, connection and inspiring action.

We are calling out for partners to collaborate on amplifying human rights related sessions connected to the following theme areas:

  • Truth and Reconciliation - Coming to Terms with Genocide and Colonization; Uprooting the Children

  • National and Provincial Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)

  • Confronting Gender Based Violence through a Global Lens

  • Strengthening Democracy through Human Rights, Civic Education and Countering Misinformation

  • Canadian Mining and Global Engagement

  • Mental Health and Collective Trauma

  • Justice and Law Enforcement Systems

  • Exclusive Citizenship - Rights of Migrants and Refugees

  • Anti-Poverty - Getting to the Roots

  • Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions

Make a Submission

If your organization would like to host an event or series of activities during this larger global campaign, we request that they send a brief 200-250 word expression of interest on what they would hope to do and accomplish as well as any potential budget expectations. Email ideas to ignitechange@jhcentre.org.

Neximar Alarcon