Welcome to the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, a non-profit human rights education organization located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The John Humphrey Centre is dedicated to programming that fosters a sense of dignity, responsibility and justice. We have undertaken projects in partnership with organizations throughout Edmonton and Alberta that have worked to build communities where everyone belongs and lives in dignity.
One of our key areas of work has been to bring youth to new levels of engagement and awareness about their role in the world. We are known projects such as the Ignite Change Now! Global Youth Assembly, our educational resources and youth leadership programs. The Youth Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, supplemented by the Youth Guide to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is one of the leading Grade 7 social studies resources across the country.[1] Youth as far away as Rwanda have garnered the confidence and skills to implement projects in their home communities and even return to Canada to share their experiences. Youth in Edmonton have learned about the issues we care about here at home and the incredible organizations and people that work tirelessly to build their community out of passion and pride. We have also lead Edmonton in becoming the first Human Rights City in North America as part of an international movement initiated by PDHRE, The Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights Learning.
The Rights in the Sun human rights education program is one of the signature initiatives of the John Humphrey Centre. As a long-standing program, Rights in the Sun has reached nearly 40,000 children in Alberta and is a legacy of the International Conference Universal Rights and Human Values: A Blueprint for Peace, Justice and Freedom held in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1998. This conference brought leaders together to reflect on the values and principles of the Universal Declaration and was attended by over 700 delegates representing 32 countries including the Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus and Nobel Laureate, Her Excellency Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, The Right Honourable Antonio Lamer, Chief Justice of Canada and of the Supreme Court of Canada, and Francine Fournier, Assistant Director General of UNESCO.
Our Vision:
A world that manifests a culture of peace and human rights in which the dignity of every person is respected, valued and celebrated.
Our Mission:
The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights advances a culture of peace and human rights through educational programs and activities, community collaboration and relationship building guided by the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
To view a copy of our 2009-2010 Annual Report, click here.
[1] Thanks to the Alberta Law Foundation for their support in the release of the Second Edition of the Youth Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the fall of 2012.
