OUR STORY
John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) - Open Circle
The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) began its journey on November 26, 1998, with the launch of the “Universal Rights and Human Values: A Blueprint for Peace, Justice and Freedom” which brought together speakers such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, her Excellency Mary Robinson and the Right Honourable Antonio Lamer. This event was the largest international commemoration and reflection of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and an examination of the road ahead.
The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights was then founded the following year in 1999 under the leadership of Gurcharan Singh Bhatia, Jack O’Neill and Gerald L. Gall. The Centre evolved out of the Human Rights Education Foundation originally founded by John Peters Humphrey, a Canadian lawyer and the original drafter of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Our Founding Fathers
Jack O’Neill provides a grounding in the early history of the Centre at the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Conference in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
Gurcharan Singh Bhatia talks about the history and founding of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and the important role of the organization in our country.
Gerald Gall shares his thoughts on the importance of human rights as values to guide Canadians and how these values provide us the foundation for a good country and society.