About Us

The Canadian Human Rights Commission is Canada’s national human rights institution. It has been accredited “A-status” by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, first in 1999 and again in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2023.

The Commission was established by Parliament through the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) in 1977. It has a broad mandate to promote and protect human rights. This includes screening and, where possible, mediating discrimination complaints, representing the public interest in the litigation of complaints, and conducting research in consultation with rights holders and stakeholders, issuing public statements, and tabling special reports in Parliament.

The Commission is committed to working with the Government of Canada as well as domestic and international partners and stakeholders to ensure continued progress in the protection of human rights, including Canada’s implementation of the rights and obligations enshrined in the human rights treaties to which Canada is a party.

The Commission also has a mandate under the Employment Equity Act and supports the Accessibility Commissioner and the Pay Equity Commissioner in carrying out their mandates under the Accessible Canada Act and the Pay Equity Act, respectively. It also provides support to the Federal Housing Advocate as legislated by the National Housing Strategy Act. The Commission is also the designated body responsible for monitoring the Government of Canada’s implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), in accordance with article 33.2 of the Convention.

Our Vision

An inclusive society where everyone is valued and respected.

Our Mission

We promote and protect human rights in Canada.

Our Mandate

The Commission protects the core principle of equal opportunity and promotes a vision of an inclusive society free from discrimination by:

  • promoting human rights through research and policy development;
  • protecting human rights through a fair and effective complaints process;
  • representing the public interest to advance human rights for all Canadians; and
  • auditing employers under federal jurisdiction for compliance with employment equity.
  • help federally regulated employers and services create a barrier-free Canada through the proactive identification, removal, and prevention of barriers to accessibility;
  • promote women’s equality by ensuring that federal public and private sector organizations value the work done by women in the same as they value work done by men; and
  • drive change on key systemic housing issues and advance the right for housing for all in Canada.

Organizational Structure

Organizational Structure - Text version follows
Organizational Structure - Text version

The image represents the Canadian Human Rights Commission organization chart. It contains:

  • Chief Commissioner
    all of the following positions are reporting to the Chief Commissioner:
    • Federal Housing Advocate note 1, note 2
    • Accessibility Commissionernote 2
    • Pay Equity Commissionernote 2
    • Executive Director
      all of the following positions are reporting to the Executive Director:
      • Proactive Branch
      • Legal Service Branch
      • Complaints Service Branch
      • Corporate Services Branch
      • Policy and Communications Branch
    • Deputy Commissioner
    • full-time Commissioner
    • three part-time Commissioners
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