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.
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.