Civil Society Mobilization: Translating Global Commitments to Domestic Action
Join the John Humphrey Centre’s Stride Advocacy Project for a two-day, open, and hybrid gathering designed to mobilize civil society at a critical moment for human rights in Canada. The event, Putting Human Rights into Action–Mobilizing Civil Society: From Global Commitments to Domestic Action is set for Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, 2026, in Regina, Saskatchewan, at the Seven Oaks Hotel. This convening is open to all individuals and organizations engaged or interested in human rights advocacy, including Stride regional partners, Righting Relations network partners and national civil society actors. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided each day. Please share any needs you have in your registration for accessibility.
Why Now? Mobilizing for Accountability
The Stride Gathering is strategically timed to take place immediately following a separate federal Day of Dialogue with Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers on International Human Rights, providing a crucial opportunity for civil society to solidify a collective, synchronized voice and shift toward proactive action. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the Twin Covenants: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
The strategic intent of this gathering is to ground domestic advocacy in these international obligations and prepare for Canada’s upcoming review under the ICESCR, which is likely coming in early 2027. The goal is to strengthen collective power, deepen relationships across regions and movements, and translate lived experience and expertise into collective shadow reporting, particularly preparing for the ICESCR review and maintaining momentum on the ICCPR review from March 2026. This work aims to generate momentum for coordinated advocacy that extends beyond the UN process and into domestic institutions for real-world change. We commit to open and inclusive mobilization, movement-building, care-centred facilitation, and valuing lived expertise as guiding principles for achieving tangible collective outputs.
What to Expect: An Action-Oriented Two Days
Day One: Understanding the UN Human Rights Architecture & Canada’s Current Moment (May 21st)
The first day is focused on building a shared understanding of UN Treaty Body processes and situating Canada’s domestic commitments within international obligations. Highlights include a Roundtable Debrief on key takeaways from the preceding FPT Day of Dialogue and an ICCPR Peer Learning Panel. Organizations that submitted ICCPR shadow reports will share their experiences, lessons learned, and strategic reflections on using the UN process for domestic advocacy. The day will conclude with strategic group discussions on dissemination and domestic accountability pathways beyond the UN system, such as through FPT governments and judicial bodies. In the evening, an aligned program hosted by partners like CNERJ, MCOS, and Righting Relations Regina will feature a dinner, popular theatre, and a panel discussion.
Day Two: Open Space for Collective Analysis, Relationship-Building, and Issue Identification (May 22nd)
Day Two will involve a participant-driven agenda focused on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ESCR) issues. The objectives are to prioritize persistent and emerging ESCR violations—covering intersections like racism, poverty, health, disability, gender, and Indigenous rights—and generate robust analysis for future ICESCR shadow report drafting. This hands-on day is dedicated to strengthening civil society relationships and generating documented analysis with collective energy and buy-in. The gathering will conclude with a share-back session, planning next steps, and a call for endorsements, ensuring clear pathways for translating international reporting into effective domestic advocacy.
SELECT SPEAKERS
Antonia Wynne-Hughes, Deputy Director, Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion | Global Affairs Canada
Antonia was born in Victoria, Canada. She graduated from Mount Allison University with an honours degree in history and a minor in French. She went on to complete a Masters of Science in the History of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Antonia joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2010 to work on the G8 and G20 Summits, hosted by Canada in June 2010. She went on to work as a bilateral relations officer on the Sudan and South Sudan Task Force (2011-2013), before working on Southern Africa (2013-2014). In 2014, she took up a position in the human rights policy division, working primarily on Canada’s engagement at the Human Rights Council. During her tenure in this position, she was sent to New York as an advisor to Third Committee at the UN General Assembly. Antonia previously worked in the Political Section at the Canadian Embassy in Ankara from 2017-2020, served as Deputy Director in the Office of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and as Director of the Consular Case Management team.
She is currently Deputy Director in the Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion division.
Bridgit O’Brien, Executive Director, UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Bridgit O'Brien is the Executive Director of the UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity. She has lived and studied in New Brunswick, British Columbia and now Saskatchewan. A trans elder who grew up in small-town Nova Scotia, Bridgit is tired of living in interesting times and now wishes to be bored.
Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, Director of Fundamental Freedoms Program; Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Anaïs Bussières McNicoll is the director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA). As part of her role at CCLA, Anaïs develops and manages strategic litigation in which the CCLA, as a party or intervener, endeavors to advance the law on fundamental freedoms, democratic rights and mobility rights. She also advocates for fundamental rights and freedoms in various forums, including parliamentary committees and the media. She is deeply involved in CCLA’s opposition to the increasing use of the notwithstanding clause to override basic human rights.
Anaïs believes that a society cannot be truly free and democratic without a transparent, accountable state that respects the rule of law and upholds Charter-protected rights. She is honoured to dedicate her professional career to defending these principles. Prior to joining the CCLA, Anaïs was a partner at a national law firm, where she practiced litigation, with a focus on public and constitutional law, as well as civil law. She was particularly sought after for her contributions to complex cases at the appellate stage, especially before the Supreme Court of Canada. Anaïs was called to the Quebec Bar in 2015 after earning her law degree with honours from the University of Montreal. She then completed a two-year clerkship at the Quebec Court of Appeal.
Ga Grant, Staff Litigation Counsel, British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
Ga (she/her) is a human rights and civil liberties lawyer serving as Litigation Staff Counsel with the BC Civil Liberties Association. Ga is passionate about innovative, relational, and community-lead human rights advocacy and education. Ga was called to law to find creative and strategic use of the colonial legal system as a tool for justice, practiced alongside a lens of decolonial engagement. Ga has been working on BCCLA’s interventions on notwithstanding clause related litigation and supporting BCCLA’s We’re Not(With)standing For This! campaign work.
Prior to joining BCCLA, Ga worked for four years serving First Nations with a focus on Indigenous rights, litigation, and specific claims. Previously, Ga clerked with the BC Supreme Court, assisted with legal aid work on Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en territories, and summered with government and a boutique litigation firm, among other community justice work.
Attendance is free and open to all. While travel support is not available, contributions are welcome to help sustain this shared work. Come ready to learn, collaborate, and turn human rights commitments into action.
Thank you to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and the McConnell Foundation for their support that allows us to do this work.