Our Vision
An inclusive society where everyone is valued and respected, and has access to equal opportunities, free from discrimination.
Our Mission
We protect and promote human rights in Canada.
Our Mandate
We advocate for human rights, and provide oversight and dispute resolution processes that are fair, equitable, and respect the inherent dignity of all.
We operate under the authority of the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Accessible Canada Act, the Employment Equity Act, the Pay Equity Act and the National Housing Strategy Act. We are internationally accredited as Canada's National Human Rights Institution.
Who we are and what we do
The Canadian Human Rights Commission provides fair mechanisms for human rights resolution, enforcement and advocacy inside a single expert organization.
We provide free, confidential, and accessible pathways for people in Canada to understand their rights, resolve disputes, and seek redress, often without the need to proceed to complex, lengthy and costly public hearings.
We advance human rights in Canada by representing the public interest, identifying emerging issues and advocating for change that keeps pace with society so that Canada is inclusive, equitable and barrier-free.
As Canada's national human rights institution, we hold Canada accountable to its international and domestic human rights commitments.
We advocate for human rights in Canada
We speak out, raise awareness, and advocate for human rights in Canada by:
- advising Parliament on new laws and emerging human rights issues
- supporting and conducting human rights research
- engaging with international bodies to raise concerns when Canada is not meeting its human rights obligations
- monitoring Canada's implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- publicizing key human rights settlements that have the potential to effect broader change across Canada
- supporting the Federal Housing Advocate in driving meaningful action and recommending human-rights based solutions to housing need and homelessness in Canada
We prevent discrimination and eliminate barriers
Empowered by a series of federal laws, we work to address and prevent discrimination and human rights issues in Canada by:
- under the Employment Equity Act, auditing federally regulated employers to ensure they are taking steps to increase representation across Canada’s workplaces for women, Indigenous peoples, racialized people and people with disabilities
- under the Pay Equity Act, supporting the Pay Equity Commissioner in carrying out their mandate to ensure that federally regulated employers comply with the Act and work towards a Canada where the right to equal pay for work of equal value is a reality for all
- under the Accessible Canada Act, supporting the Accessibility Commissioner in carrying out their mandate to promote, monitor, and oversee compliance with the Act among federally regulated employers, in support of a barrier-free Canada.
- as a federally regulated employer, putting our values into practice and maintaining an unwavering commitment to ongoing progress in inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and anti-racism (IDEA-AR)
We resolve human rights complaints
We help protect human rights in Canada by:
- receiving and screening complaints from people who believe they have experienced discrimination, harassment, and other barriers to pay equity and accessibility
- helping people resolve disputes and obtain meaningful individual and systemic remedies through mediation and conciliation
- referring complaints to the independent Canadian Human Rights Tribunal when the Commissioners determine further inquiry is warranted
- representing the public interest in certain cases that go before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and Canada’s courts