Universal: Renewing Human Rights in a Fractured World

Use Your Power

“We the peoples” have power. That is how change happens. When we believe in human rights, we are empowered and we forge solidarity with others. When we believe in human rights, we spread the word about why they matter and we build awareness as we go. When we believe in human rights, we are inspired to defend them and we protest when they are denied. When we believe in human rights, we change lives for the better.

It may be tempting to think it harmless to stay silent and keep out of the fray. Not so. On the contrary, silence and inaction reinforce the status quo, intentionally or not, at a time when that status quo is permeated with inequality, hate, climate disasters, mass atrocities, and economic injustice.

We each have a responsibility to uphold human rights; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights tells us so. But even more importantly, we all have the potential and the power to do so. When we come together, be it a small neighbourhood campaign organized by a handful of people or a global movement that draws millions together, we do indeed overcome injustice and transform our world. Never tell yourself you’re insignificant and you can’t make a difference. Nothing could be further from the truth. History tells us so.

There are countless ways to take action, provide support, or be an ally, no matter how small the effort may seem or how large, even insurmountable, the challenge may feel. Not everyone can lead, and not everyone is meant to be a follower. Some people will be drawn to direct action in the streets, and others will circulate petitions from home. Not everyone will be able to provide financial support, though it is always needed and greatly appreciated. Some of us will be angry and vocal, and others quiet, but no less determined. And of course none of us can take up all issues, everywhere, all of the time. We need to make choices. Above all we need to act together.

There are many ways to get involved. The 2025 Massey Lectures book, Universal: Renewing Human Rights in a Fractured World, has touched on a wide array of pressing concerns, some global and others distinctly Canadian, including enormous challenges such as the climate crisis, mass atrocities, the rise of hate, the place of technology and data in our lives, inequality and discrimination, economic injustice, forced displacement, nuclear weapons, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Action Links

Current actions that pick up on these concerns include the following:

Pressing the Canadian government to take action to address the genocide in Gaza:

Calling on the Canadian government to prevent the wrongful extradition of Hassan Diab to France:

Demanding that the Canadian government withdraw Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act:

Calling on the Canadian government to amend Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act, to ensure that it protects the climate and upholds the rights of Indigenous Peoples:

Calling on the government of Ontario to withdraw Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act:

Demanding that the European Union protect refugees and migrants trying to reach Europe by sea:

Calling on governments in Canada to refrain from using the notwithstanding clause in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

Taking action in response to Donald Trump’s wide-ranging assault on human rights:

Demanding that the Chinese and Hong Kong governments stop enforcing the National Security Law:

Calling for an arms embargo in Sudan:

 Calling for gender apartheid to be recognized as a crime under international law:

Opposing proposed legislation in Albert that undermines the equality rights and safety of trans youth:

Pressing for the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise to be granted promised powers needed to conduct effective investigations:

Useful Links

With the caveat that websites change, with time and as issues shift and develop, new websites come to the fore and others fade away, you can find suggestions for taking action and getting involved here:

Amnesty International Canada: www.amnesty.ca

First Nations Child and Family Caring Society: https://fncaringsociety.com/what-you-can-do

Climate Action Network: https://climateactionnetwork.ca/

David Suzuki Foundation: https://davidsuzuki.org/take-action/

Oxfam Canada: https://www.oxfam.ca/take-action/get-involved/campaign-with-us/

Canadian Council for Refugees: https://www.ccrweb.ca/en/action

Canadian Network for Corporate Accountability: https://cnca-rcrce.ca/#

International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group : https://iclmg.ca/category/take-action/

International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons: https://jointheban.icanw.org/

Canadian Civil Liberties Association: https://ccla.org/

Feminist Alliance for International Action: https://fafia-afai.org/

Egale: https://egale.ca/action/

National Right to Housing Network: https://housingrights.ca/take-action/