June 12, 2025
Open Letter to The Right Honourable Mark Carney Prime Minister of Canada
Dear Prime Minister,
June 9, 2025
The Right Honourable Mark Carney Prime Minister of Canada
80 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2
Dear Prime Minister,
We write this Open Letter to you as a group of 412 professors of law and lawyers with backgrounds in international law and human rights; academics with demonstrated expertise in international relations, justice and human rights; civil society, faith and labour movement leaders; and former and retired ministers, diplomats and public servants who have worked over many decades to advance Canada’s global interests. We write because of the catastrophic human rights and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, now into its twentieth month, which is broadly understood by international law experts and leading human rights organizations as constituting genocide.
Waiting, vacillating, remaining silent and failing or, worse, refusing to act in the face of mounting and incontrovertible evidence of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity can no longer be options for Canada. But it is not enough to simply speak out. Canada must do everything in its power to stop these atrocities and support efforts to bring those responsible to account. This is what our signatures on the 1948 Genocide Convention and the 1998 Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court demand.
We offer five priority recommendations for action, which are described in more detail at the end of this letter. We urge you to take up these suggestions both unilaterally and jointly with partners, including at the upcoming G7 Summit.
- Work actively towards an immediate, permanent ceasefire and the release of all Israeli and Palestinian captives.
- Insist on full humanitarian access to Gaza in a manner in keeping with core humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence, and demand that the Israeli ban on the UN Relief and Works Agency be completely lifted.
- Publicly support the role of and fully comply with international courts in holding to account those who violate international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Israel.
- Pursue all possible domestic measures, including immediately withdrawing from the free trade agreement between Canada and Israel, imposing sanctions on Israeli leaders and other individuals suspected of involvement in atrocity crimes, initiating investigations into charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act (including any Canadians or dual nationals involved in such crimes) with the aim of prosecuting offenders in Canada or other jurisdictions, enforcing a full and comprehensive two- way arms embargo, and stripping charitable status from organizations found to be complicit in crimes under international law.
- Without further delay, join the 149 states who recognize the State of Palestine and support all efforts for Palestine to be admitted as a full member of the United Nations.
Urgency
We write with a sense of unprecedented urgency, which only deepens as the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly Gaza, worsens hourly.
First and foremost, there is urgency because the situation on the ground in Gaza has become unimaginably dire. Adequate words to accurately describe the level and scale of death, suffering and destruction escape us. Even such a term as apocalyptic seems insufficient. Over 54,000 Gazans have been killed since Israel’s military operations began, amounting to a staggering 2.4% of the population. We write that figure, knowing that it underrepresents those killed and that it will rise daily. The true number of deaths is certainly higher, given that there are many bodies that have yet to be recovered from underneath the rubble of buildings that have collapsed under bombardment. Countless others are dying from malnutrition and infectious diseases. An estimated 70% of the deaths have been women and children.1 The numbers of children who have been killed – often all of the children in a single family at the same time – shatters the collective heart of humanity.
What has transpired in Gaza over the past twenty months is an abhorrent situation of unspeakable death and devastation that should not and cannot be allowed to continue for a single day, in fact a single minute, longer. That the situation has been allowed to reach such depths of suffering is a despicably shameful disgrace borne by the entire international community, including Canada. It is the inevitable result of months of inaction and wholesale impunity.
We are in full agreement with the detailed analysis and conclusions reached by UN human rights experts,2 respected human rights organizations,3 and numerous legal academics4 that genocide is taking place in Gaza. It should not have come to this. We remind you that there exists a clear and unambiguous legal obligation on parties to the Genocide Convention, which obviously includes Canada, to prevent genocide where there is a risk of it being committed. It cannot be said with any semblance of rationality that no such risk has existed for the last twenty months.
In point of fact, on 26 January 2024, the International Court of Justice found that the right of the Palestinian people in Gaza under the Genocide Convention not to be subjected to acts of genocide is plausibly at stake and that there exists a “real and imminent risk” of genocide in Gaza.5 This is enough to have triggered the obligation of all signatories to the Genocide Convention – including Canada – to take positive measures to prevent genocide in Gaza. In addition, the Court ordered the Israeli government to “take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”6
Since that ruling over sixteen months ago, and in violation of two further binding provisional measures orders of the ICJ,7 Israel has taken measures to exponentially worsen conditions in Gaza. Israel’s decision to completely block humanitarian access to Gaza since March 2, 2025, and more recently to bypass UN and established humanitarian agencies and instead deliver a meagre level of aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a so-called ‘humanitarian’ foundation lacking humanity, independence, impartiality and neutrality, has been widely condemned, including by your government. In the words of UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, these so-called “humanitarian” measures adopted by Israel are a “cynical sideshow”, “a deliberate distraction”, and “a fig leaf for further violence and displacement.”8 Of note, dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured attempting to collect food aid from the GHF to date.9
We write with the full knowledge that one year ago – 10 June 2024 – the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2735 (proposed by the United States) which demanded “an immediate, full and complete ceasefire”, the return of Israeli and Palestinian captives, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighbourhoods throughout Gaza and the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Strip. The Resolution also rejected “any attempt at demographic change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of Gaza.”
We write with additional urgency given that you are hosting the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in five days’ time. We anticipate that the situation in Gaza, broader issues related to Israel and Palestine, and wider tensions and openings regarding geopolitical and security challenges in the Middle East, will feature in your discussions. It is a crucial opportunity for concerted action from seven of the world’s most influential governments and economies. It is an opportunity that must be seized.
We welcomed the joint statement that was issued by three of the seven G7 leaders, namely French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and yourself, on May 19, 202510 and commend the red lines that were drawn. In particular we note that you have committed to “further concrete actions” if the Israeli government continues with its renewed military offensive and fails to lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid in Gaza. You have indicated that you will not “hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions” if Israel does not halt the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. The time for such actions is now. Despite extensive and credible documentation of ongoing international crimes, Canada still refuses to act. What more evidence could possibly be needed?
Indeed, you have not yet taken any such action, despite the fact that the renewed military offensive and restrictions on humanitarian aid which you decried nearly three weeks ago have not abated. Similarly we have seen no response from Canada to the recent decision by Israel’s security cabinet to establish 22 new illegal settlements in the West Bank, the most extensive move of its kind since the Oslo Accords and which Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, explicitly acknowledges is “a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel.”11
Prime Minister Carney, it is clearly time for the further concrete action that has been promised by Canada. It is our expectation that as the summit host, and working with President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer, you will generate wider G7 action along these lines.
International Courts and International Law
We have followed closely the investigation launched by the International Criminal Court with respect to the situation in the State of Palestine. As you are aware, in May 2024 the Court’s Prosecutor sought arrest warrants against three Hamas and two Israeli leaders, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the October 7th attack and the military offensive that has followed. The three Hamas leaders have all subsequently been killed and the proceedings against them have been discontinued or withdrawn. Arrest warrants were issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant in November 2024 and remain outstanding.12 The Court’s investigations continue and there is every possibility that further arrest warrants may be sought.
Many of us endorsed an Open Letter to your predecessor, Justin Trudeau, from 375 academics, lawyers, civil society and faith leaders and former ministers and diplomats in May 2024, calling on the Canadian government to support the ICC’s ongoing work with respect to Palestine.13 That remains a key imperative, as a means of tackling the decades of impunity that have shielded those responsible for grave crimes under international law in Palestine and in Israel from accountability.
To date we have been disappointed by what would best be termed ambivalent and reluctant support from the Canadian government for the ICC. Your government must not only support the ICC’s investigation in words, but in deeds, for instance by allocating investigators to assist the Court’s probe into atrocities in Palestine, as it did in the context of the Ukraine investigation. We likewise implore your government to not only clearly state that it would enforce the existing ICC arrest warrants but that it would support the issuance of additional warrants, including in relation to atrocities committed in the West Bank.
We draw your attention as well to the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in July 2024, in which the Court found that “Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful.”14 The Court noted that all states – i.e. including Canada and all members of the G7 – are “under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”15 The Court affirmed that all States were therefore under a duty “to distinguish in their dealings with Israel between the territory of the State of Israel and the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967”.16 In this regard, the Court affirmed that such a duty encompasses, inter alia:
- “the obligation to abstain from treaty relations with Israel in all cases in which it purports to act on behalf of the Occupied Palestinian Territory or a part thereof on matters concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or a part of its territory;
- to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory;
- to abstain, in the establishment and maintenance of diplomatic missions in Israel, from any recognition of its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; and
- to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”17
As the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the ICJ’s authoritative determination of international law, as above, is binding on all States, regardless of whether such determination appears in the form of an Advisory Opinion of the Court. This is so given the Court’s determinations above all rest upon Israel’s violations of peremptory norms of international law, derogation from which is not permitted.
Many of us were involved in letters to and/or meetings with the former prime minister and relevant ministers over the course of 2024, laying out recommendations for action that Canada is legally required to take in response to the 2024 Advisory Opinion, including in relation to illegal settlements in the West Bank, which are war crimes; but very little has been done, and the minimal steps that have been taken, such as sanctions against a negligible number of individual settlers in the West Bank, have clearly proven ineffective.18
In our view Canada has fallen far short of complying with the clear international legal obligation to refrain from providing “aid or assistance” to Israel in continuing its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and its commission of other internationally wrongful acts, including core international crimes, in the territory.
Recommendations
Legally and morally, it is incumbent on Canada, and therefore upon your government, to pursue all possible action to end, prevent, investigate and punish genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and in Israel. We note that under the Genocide Convention Canada has an express obligation to prevent and punish genocide. As well, the Convention is widely recognized to give rise to erga omnes obligations, which all states have a legal interest in enforcing. No state can or should remain passive in the face of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. We urge you to prioritize Canadian action in five areas.
Ceasefire and Release of Captives
The most immediate step that must be taken in Gaza is a full, unconditional ceasefire, starting with a complete halt to Israel’s renewed ground offensive. That must include release of all captives unlawfully held by Hamas and by Israel. Your government has expressed opposition to the renewed offensive and insisted that it be halted, and has frequently called for a ceasefire. Working with G7 and other partners, there must now be consequences for the consistent failure and refusal to comply with those demands.
Humanitarian access
The blockade on humanitarian access to Gaza since early March has given rise to catastrophic conditions on the ground which UN officials have described as a famine; a famine that is not a result of environmental conditions or crop failure, but entirely instigated by Israeli government policy, decisions and action. Your government must insist that the Israeli ban on the UN Relief and Works Agency be lifted, and that aid be allowed into Gaza at the scale that is required and in conformity with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice issued in South Africa v. Israel, as well as widely recognized humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. Again, working with other governments, there must be consequences for Israel’s refusal to live up to this most basic of humanitarian imperatives. Canada must not work with, recognize or in any way support the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which in no ways adheres to those humanitarian principles and instead supports Israel’s military strategies and intentions regarding Gaza.
Support for international courts
Canada has a long and proud tradition of supporting the important role of international courts in upholding international law. Support for these institutions is vital at this time. Both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court are actively engaged in cases involving allegations and charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel and Palestine. Those two courts have faced criticism and hostile challenges from a number of governments, particularly Israel and the United States. Canada can do much more to demonstrate the substance of our support for international courts. That should include developing a plan of action for ensuring Canada: a) complies with the ICJ’s 2024 Advisory Opinion regarding the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; b) intervenes in support of South Africa’s case at the ICJ under the Genocide Convention in the way Canada has done in other cases (i.e. Gambia v. Myanmar); c) makes a clear public statement confirming Canada’s commitment to enforcing arrest warrants issued by the ICC; and d) works with other governments to refer concerns about the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank to the ICC Prosecutor.
Pursue all possible measures within Canada
In addition to taking international action there are many steps that Canada can and must take domestically. In fact, we are legally obliged to do so. The Genocide Convention outlaws not only genocide but “complicity in genocide.” The Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act lays out the legal framework for charges related to genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes to be brought against both Canadians and non-Canadians before Canadian courts. Among other measures we call on your government to:
- build on the sanctions that have been imposed against Hamas, other Palestinian armed groups and leaders associated with those groups, as well as sanctions imposed against extremist settlers, by imposing sanctions against key Israeli government officials suspected of responsibility for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defence Israel Katz, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich;
- enforce a full, two-way arms ban between Canada and Israel, including all Canadian arms, parts or components and ‘dual-use’ objects transferred to Israel via the United States or any other third country;
- withdraw from the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, particularly given that the agreement is unlawful for being in violation of two peremptory norms of international law, namely the prohibition on the acquisition of territory through the threat or use of force and the obligation to respect a people’s right to self-determination (see the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, article 53), and the fact that the agreement includes goods and services originating from illegal West Bank settlements and fails to distinguish between Israeli territory and the occupied Palestinian territory;
- request the RCMP to launch investigations into allegations that Canadian citizens and organizations incorporated in and based in Canada have committed, or aided and abetted the commission of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity in Israel or Palestine, including while serving with the Israel Defense Forces, with the specific aim of prosecuting alleged perpetrators; and appoint an independent expert to investigate and ensure that any organization with Canadian charitable status that has provided financial or other support for genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes is stripped of that status.
Recognition of the State of Palestine
Finally, Prime Minister, we urge you to recognize the State of Palestine, which should be granted full membership within the United Nations. There is wide support for doing so, with 149 States having already done so (148 of the 193 member states of the UN, plus one nonmember Observer State, the Holy See).19 The Canadian government has previously expressed an intention to do so eventually, but has indicated it is premature.20 That cannot stand, particularly as the Israeli government pursues such courses of action as genocide in Gaza and the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, which are (by Israel’s own admission) intended to undermine the territorial integrity and political independence of Palestine. As noted by the International Court of Justice in its 2024 Advisory Opinion, the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination in their State is in the nature of a peremptory norm of international law, derogation from which is not permitted, and is therefore not a matter of negotiation. Canada’s position is patronizing and contravenes the fundamental right of Palestinians to self-determination. Canada can and should wait no longer.
We also remind you that on 18 September 2024, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly (124-14-45) adopted Resolution ES-10/24, which not only welcomed the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, but also gave Israel a firm deadline of 12 months to completely end its unlawful occupation of the Palestinian Territory. We urge you to join with other like-minded states in the world who – in the event that Israel does not obey the clear directions of the Court, the United Nations and the international community – will consider the necessary consequences of that defiance.
Prime Minister, there is no question as to which side of history Canada belongs. Because of Canada’s proclaimed “shared values” and close relationship with Israel, Ottawa must spare no effort to bring the genocide in Gaza, and the war crimes and crimes against humanity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, to an immediate end. Upholding international law is the only avenue through which not only peace, justice and human rights, but the durable, long-term security of Israelis and Palestinians alike will be achieved.
Sincerely,
ENDORSED BY:
(Organizational affiliations are cited only for identification purposes and do not indicate endorsement by those organizations.)
Imtenan Abd-El-Razik Barrister and Solicitor
Nahla Abdo, Ph.D.
Chancellor’s Professor, Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Carleton University
Yasmeen Abu-Laban
Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Politics of Citizenship and Human Rights Department of Political Science University of Alberta
Nadia Abu-Zahra
Professor of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa
Laurie Adkin
Professor Emerita of Political Science University of Alberta
Michelle Adormaa Owusu Barrister and Solicitor
Melanie Adrian
Associate Professor Carleton University
Hodan Ahmed Mohamed
Founder, Arawelo Institute for Leadership & Public Policy and UN Human Rights Fellow
Sharry Aiken Professor of Law
Queen's University
Dr. Davut Akca
Assistant Professor, Criminology Lakehead University
Greg Albo
Professor of International Relations, Department of Politics, York University
Kristi A. Allain
Canada Research Chair, Physical Culture and Social Life and Professor, Sociology, St. Thomas University
Carmen Alvarez
Barrister and Solicitor
Dr. Kjell Anderson
Associate Professor of Law University of Manitoba
Ian Angus
Professor Emeritus Simon Fraser University
Rachad Antonius
Honorary Professor (Retired Full Professor), Department of Sociology Université du Québec à Montréal
Veromi Arsiradam
Barrister and Solicitor
Florence Ashley
Assistant Professor of Law University of Alberta
Professor François Audet
Director of the Montreal Institute of International Studies, Université du Québec à Montréal
Michael Aylward
Former international development analyst Global Affairs Canada (retired)
Muhannad Ayyash Professor of Sociology Mount Royal University
Amanda Aziz
Refugee, Immigration and Human Rights Lawyer
Sofiane Baba
Professor of strategic management Université de Sherbrooke
Dr. Feyzi Baban
Professor and Chair, Department of Global Justice and Development, Trent University
Rémi Bachand
Professeur de droit international Université du Québec à Montréal
Abigail B. Bakan Professor
University of Toronto
Corey Balsam
National Coordinator, Independent Jewish Voices Canada
Nigel Bankes, FRSC
Emeritus Professor of Law University of Calgary
Peter Barnacle
Former general counsel, Canadian Association of University Teachers
Gerald K. Barr, CM
Former President/CEO, Canadian Council for International Cooperation
Ranu Basu
Professor of Geography, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change York University
Dr. Susan Bazilli
Director, International Women's Rights Project and Member of UN OHCHR Group of Independent Experts on Human Rights Situation in Belarus
Sarah Beamish Human Rights Lawyer
Dr. Stéphane Beaulac
Professor of international law Université de Montréal
Lori Beckstead
Associate Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University
Shakeela Begum Lawyer
Matthew Behrens
Coordinator, Rural Refugee Rights Network
Ibrahim Bengizi
Barrister and Solicitor
Faisal Bhabha
Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School York University
Brenna Bhandar
Associate Professor, Allard School of Law University of British Columbia
Gilles Bibeau
Professeur émérite, Université de Montréal
Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton Sarah L. Boyd
Barrister & Solicitor
Susan B. Boyd
Professor Emerita, Allard School of Law University of British Columbia
Professor Susan Breau
Institute of Advanced Legal Studies University of London
Bruce Broomhall
Professeur, droit pénal international Université du Québec à Montréal
Dr. Carissa Brown Professor
Memorial University
Sue Brown
Director of Advocacy, Justice for Girls
Elyse Bruce, LLB
Michael Bueckert, PhD
Acting President, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Doris Buss
Professor of Law, Department of Law and Legal Studies, Carleton University
Salematou Camara
Barrister and Solicitor
Bonnie Campbell
Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Political Science and Law, Université du Québec à Montréal
Christopher Campbell-Duruflé
Assistant Professor, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University
Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land Irina Ceric
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law University of Windsor
Jamil Chammas Avocat
Paul Champ
Human rights lawyer
Chi Carmody
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law Western University
Jessica Chandrashekar Lawyer and academic
Elaine Coburn
Associate Professor, International Studies York University
Veldon Coburn, Ph.D Associate Professor McGill University
Marjorie Griffin Cohen Professor Emeritus Simon Fraser University
Miriam Cohen
Full Professor and Canada Research Chair in Human Rights and International Justice, Faculty of Law, Université de Montréal
Robert Collette
Former Ambassador of Canada, Chief of Protocol for Canada and Sherpa for the Francophonie
Ken Collier
Retired Professor, Arts and Integrated Studies Athabasca University
Kristina Cooke Lawyer
François Crépeau, OC
Professor of International Law, McGill
University, and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants
Ally Crockford, PhD
National Coordinator, Righting Relations Canada
Alison Crosby
Associate Professor, School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, York University
Lawrence Cumming
International Development/Civil Society Leader and Executive (Retired)
Dr. Amanda Dale
Fellow, Human Rights Research and Education Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Stephen D’Arcy
Associate Professor, Philosophy Huron University
Gail Davidson
Director and Founder of Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, Lawyer (retired status)
Shelagh Day, C.M. Human Rights Advocate
Joseph G Debanné, Phd, P.Eng,
Retired Chair of the Middle East Study Group
Beverley J Delong
Barrister & Solicitor (Inactive)
Dr Nathan Derejko
Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Manitoba
Me Louise Desautels Avocate à la retraite
Emily Dixon Barrister
Tasha Donnelly
Barrister and Solicitor
Katie Douglas Lawyer
Sarah Dowling, Ph.D. Assistant Professor University of Toronto
Roxanne Dubé
Former Canadian Ambassador
Karen Dubinsky Professor
Global Development Studies/History Queen’s University
Todd Dufresne
Professor of Philosophy Lakehead University
John Dugard
Emeritus professor of international Law and former UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Jouman El-Asmar
Barrister and Solicitor
Dr. Lena El-Malak
Independent expert in public international law
Christo El Morr
Professor of Health Informatics
Director of the Center for Feminist Research York University
Mohamed El Rashidy Barrister and Solicitor
Tammer El-Sheikh, PhD
Associate Professor, Art History York University
Reem Elawny Lawyer
Pearl Eliadis
Human rights lawyer, Associate Professor (professional), Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University; Full Member, Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, Faculty of Law, McGill University; Expert Group on Human Rights of the Quebec Bar Association
Marc Epprecht
Professor, Department of Global Development Studies, Queen's University
Almira Esmail
Barrister and Solicitor
Mark Etkin, MD FRCPC Associate Professor
University of Manitoba
Mohammad Fadel
Professor of Law, Faculty of Law University of Toronto
Leilani Farha
Former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing
Sana Fatima
Human rights lawyer
Paul Fauteux
International lawyer and former Canadian diplomat
Jaron Fergusson
Barrister and Solicitor
John W. Foster
International Studies, University of Regina (ret'd)
Robert Fox
Retired Civil Society Leader
Evan Fox-Decent
Canada Research Chair in Cosmopolitan Law and Justice, Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University
Sr. Mary-Ellen Francoeur
On behalf of Pax Christi Toronto
Philippe M. Frowd
Associate Professor, School of Political Studies University of Ottawa.
Richard Fung
Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Art OCAD University
Monika Kin Gagnon Professor Emerita Concordia University
Martin Gallié
Professeur, département des sciences juridiques Université du Québec à Montréal
Dr. Samir Gandesha
Professor of Global Humanities and Director of the Institute for the Humanities, Simon Fraser University
Cheryl Gaster
Human rights lawyer (retired)
Amanda Ghahremani
Research Fellow, Human Rights Center UC Berkeley School of Law
Sara Ghebremusse Assistant Professor
Peter A. Allard School of Law University of British Columbia
Arash Ghiassi Lawyer
Emily Gilbert
Professor, Canadian Studies and Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Jacqui Gingras Professor, Sociology
Toronto Metropolitan University
Harry Glasbeek
Professor Emeritus and Senior Scholar, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Tracy Glynn
Assistant Professor St. Thomas University
Sofia Rosio Godomar
Founder, Educate Girls Network
Luin Goldring
Professor of Sociology York University
Howard Green
Former Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Canada - Ontario Region (2006-2012)
Joyce Green Professor Emerita
University of Regina
Jesse Greener, PhD
Full Professor, Département de chimie, Université Laval
John Greyson
Film/video artist
Malini Guha
Associate Professor Carleton University
Priya Gupta
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law McGill University
Ratiba Hadj-Moussa Professor of Sociology York University
Blayne Haggart
Professor, Department of Political Science Brock University
Judy Haiven, PhD Retired Professor
Saint Mary's University
David Halton
Former CBC Foreign Correspondent
Saad Hammadi
Fellow, Balsillie School of International Affairs
Yavar Hameed Human rights lawyer
Mark Hancock
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
Paul Hannon
Retired Executive Director, Mines Action Canada (1998-2023) and Former Vice-Chair,
International Campaign to Ban Landmines – Cluster Munition Coalition
Robin F. Hansen
Associate Professor, College of Law University of Saskatchewan
Louise Harel
Députée, Ministre, Présidente, Assemblée nationale du Québec (1981-2008)
Sasha Hart
Human rights lawyer
James C Hathaway, FRSC
Degan Professor of Law Emeritus University of Michigan
Matthew Hayes
Professor of Sociology and Canada Research Chair in Global and Transnational Studies St. Thomas University
Jennifer Henderson
Professor, School of Canadian Studies Carleton University
Salvador Herencia-Carrasco
Member, Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa
Steven High
Professor of History Concordia University
Dr. Catherine Holtmann
Professor, Department of Sociology University of New Brunswick
Jennie M Hornosty, PhD Retired Professor, Sociology University of New Brunswick
Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann, CM, O.Ont, FRSC Canada Research Chair in International Human Rights (2003-2016)
Wilfrid Laurier University
Kirsten Hummel
Professor of applied linguistics Université Laval
Rachel Hurst
Professor and Coordinator, Women’s and Gender Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Adnan Husain
Director, School of Religion, and Associate Professor in History, Queen's University
Pablo Idahosa
Professor Emeritus, African Studies and International Development Studies, York University
Kareem Ibrahim
Barrister and Solicitor
Sofia Ijaz
Refugee and Immigration Lawyer
Brian Iler
Barrister and Solicitor
Shin Imai
Professor Emeritus, Osgoode Hall Law School York University
Talbot Imlay
Professeur titulaire, Département des sciences historiques, Université Laval
Ardi Imseis
Associate Professor of Law, Faculty of Law Queen’s University
Peter Ives
Professor of Political Science University of Winnipeg
Humera Jabir Lawyer
Barbara Jackman, C.M. Human rights lawyer
Martha Jackman
Professor emerita, Faculty of Law University of Ottawa
Merle A. Jacobs, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Equity Studies, York University
Ilwad A. Jama Lawyer
Cesar Jaramillo
Former Executive Director, Project Ploughshares
Zahra H. Jimale
Barrister and Solicitor
Zaheera Jinnah, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work University of Victoria
Yasmin Jiwani, PhD
Professor Emerita, Department of Communication Studies
Concordia University
Susan Johnson
Former Deputy Secretary General Canadian Red Cross and
Former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Dr. El Jones
Assistant Professor, Department of Politics, Economics, and Canadian Studies, Mount Saint Vincent University
Talia Joundi
Immigration Lawyer
David Juncker
Professor and Chair Biomedical Engineering Department, McGill University
Nathan Kalman-Lamb
Associate Professor of Sociology University of New Brunswick
Charis Kamphuis
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law Thompson Rivers University
Molly Kane
Former Executive Director of Inter Pares and Former Executive Director of Council of Canadians
Sandra Ka Hon Chu, LLM Azeezah Kanji
Legal academic and journalist
Ilan Kapoor
Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University
Dr. Lara Karaian
Associate Professor, Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Carleton University
Michael Karanicolas
Associate Professor and James S. Palmer Chair in Public Policy & Law, Schulich School of Law Dalhousie University
Armaan Kassam Staff Lawyer
National Counsel of Canadian Muslims
Ali Kazimi, FRSC
Filmmaker and professor York University
Judith Keene
Vice Chair (retired), Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
Lisa M. Kelly
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law Queen’s University
Kamala Kempadoo Professor Emerita York University
Dr. Mark Kersten
Assistant Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of the Fraser Valley
Faiz Ahmad Khan, MD MPH Associate Professor, McGill University
Noreen Khimji
Barrister and Solicitor
Rosel Kim
Barrister and Solicitor
Dr Asad Kiyani
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law University of Victoria
Naomi Klein
Author, Associate Professor of Geography University of British Columbia
Mustafa Koc
Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology Toronto Metropolitan University
L Richard Kohler
Former Canadian Ambassador, retired
Professor Jennifer Koshan Faculty of Law
University of Calgary
Jonathan Kuttab
Co-founder, Just Peace Advocates
Faisal Kutty
Associate Professor of Law Emeritus, Valparaiso University and Affiliate Faculty Member
Rutgers University Center for Security, Race, and Rights
Joan Kuyek, DSW Adjunct Instructor Queen’s University
Fannie Lafontaine
Full Professor, Faculty of Law, Former Canada Research Chair on International Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Université Laval
Lucie Lamarche Professeure
Université du Québec à Montréal
Michele Landsberg
Feminist Journalist, Officer of the Order of Canada
Emma Landy
Barrister and Solicitor, Labour and Human Rights Law
Jonathan Langdon
Professor, Development Studies and Canada Research Chair for Sustainability and Social Change Leadership, St. Francis Xavier University
Karinne Lantz
Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Law Dalhousie University
Peter Larson, Ph.D.
Chair, Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine
Rebeka Lauks
Barrister and Solicitor, Instructor, Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law Queen's University
Dr. Jason Laurendeau
Professor, Department of Sociology University of Lethbridge
Min Sook Lee
Documentary Filmmaker, Associate Professor OCAD University
Nazma Lee
Barrister and Solicitor
Soo-Jin Lee
Barrister and Solicitor
B.A. LeFrançois, PhD
University Research Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Mayme Lefurgey, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor, Department of Sociology University of New Brunswick
Michael A. Leitold
Barrister and Solicitor
Professor Josh Lepawsky Department of Geography,
Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
Charles Z. Levkoe,
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems Lakehead University
Avi Lewis
Filmmaker, NDP Federal Candidate
Stephen Lewis
Former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations
Dr. Carol Liao
Associate Professor, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia
Jamie Liew
Full Professor and Shirley Greenberg Chair for Women and the Legal Profession, Faculty of Law University of Ottawa
Jessica Lott Thompson
Human Rights Lawyer; Former Director, Yukon Human Rights Commission; Sessional Instructor, Faculty of Law, University of Victoria
Me Sami Louzi Avocat/Lawyer
Michael Lynk
Professor Emeritus of Law, Western University and the former UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Nimâ Machouf, PhD École de santé publique Université de Montréal
Professor Carolyn A. MacLean Barrister and Solicitor
Theresa MacLean
Barrister and Solicitor
Dania Majid
Arab Canadian Lawyers Association
Camille Marquis Bissonnette Professor of Law
Université du Québec en Outaouais
Sarah Maiter, PhD
Professor, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies School of Social Work, York University
Diana Majury
Professor Emerita, Law and Legal Studies Carleton University
Aylin Manduric
Barrister and Solicitor (non-practicing)
Firoze Manji
Adjunct Professor, Institute of African Studies Carleton University,
James Manly
Former Member of Parliament (1980-88)
Mudasir Marfatia
Barrister and Solicitor
Thomas Marois
Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Professor of Political Economy, McMaster University
Dr. James G. Martin Professor of Medicine McGill University
Peggy Mason
President, Rideau Institute and former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament to the United Nations
Dr. Ingrid Mattson
Professor of Islamic Studies & Director of the Centre for Islamic Theology, Ethics & Spirituality Huron University
Dr. Heidi Matthews
Assistant Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School York University
Richard Matthews Associate Professor Bond University
Monia Mazigh, PhD
Author, Adjunct Research Professor, Department of English and Literature Carleton University
Carlota McAllister
Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University
Stephen McBride
Professor of Political Science McMaster University
Rosemary McCarney
Former Ambassador of Canada to the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament, Senior Fellow, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Visiting Scholar in International Relations, Trinity College, University of Toronto, and Senior Fellow, Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary Canadian History
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston
Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
Meghan McDermott
Barrister and Solicitor, Policy Director, British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
Samantha McGavin
Executive Director, Inter Pares
Liam McHugh-Russell
Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Law Dalhousie University
Sheila McIntyre
Retired Professor, Faculty of Law University of Ottawa
Melissa J. McKay
Barrister and Solicitor
Paul McLennan
Barrister and Solicitor
Tim McSorley National Coordinator
International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
Merouan Mekouar
Professor / Professeur titulaire, Department of Social Science, York University
Koula Mellos
Professor of Political Science (retired) University of Ottawa
Donna Mergler Professor emerita
Université du Québec à Montréal
Naiomi Metallic
Associate Professor and Chancellor’s Chair of Aboriginal Law and Policy at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University
Urooj Mian, MSc., LL.M
CEO Sustainable Human Empowerment (SHE) Associates
Dr. Liam Midzain-Gobin Political Science
Brock University
Drew Mildon Lawyer
Bob Miller
President (retired), The Parliamentary Centre
Rabbi David Mivasair
Independent Jewish Voices Canada
Douglas Moggach
Distinguished University Professor University of Ottawa
Haideh Moghissi
Emerita Professor of Sociology York University
Jeffrey Monaghan
Associate Professor, Institute of Criminology Carleton University
Catherine Morris
Independent Legal Scholar, (Past) Executive Director, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada; Director, Peacemakers Trust
Khaled Loutfi Mouammar
Former Member, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (1994 – 2005)
Mary Mouammar
Former Member, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Randa Mouammar Lawyer and Professor Seneca Polytechnic
Brian K Murphy
Author, human rights advocate, Former senior policy analyst, Inter Pares (ret.)
Dr Shannonbrooke Murphy Endowed Chair in Human Rights St Thomas University
Jennifer Mustapha
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Huron University at Western
Shaun Narine
Professor and Chair, Political Science St. Thomas University
Shelina Neallani
Barrister & Solicitor
Sheryl Nestel, PhD
Affiliated Scholar, New College University of Toronto
Alex Neve, OC
Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and Visiting and Adjunct Professor of International Human Rights Law University of Ottawa
Kim Hong Nguyen Associate Professor
University of Waterloo
Vinh Nguyen
Associate Professor of English University of Waterloo
Ken Norman
Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Saskatchewan
Dr. John K. Merou
Professor, University of Toronto
Extraordinary Professor, Stellenbosch University
Lori Lee Oates
Teaching Assistant Professor
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Rula Odeh
Chair, Canadian Friends of Sabeel
Henry Off
Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights
Professor Ubaka Ogbogu Faculty of Law
University of Alberta.
Obiora C Okafor
Professor of International Law, Osgoode Hall Law School
York University
Celeste Orr
Assistant Professor, Sociology University of New Brunswick
Professor Gerardo Otero School of International Studies Simon Fraser University
John Packer
Director, Human Rights Research and Education Centre and Associate Professor, Faculty of Law University of Ottawa
Genevieve Renard Painter, PhD
Member, Quebec Bar, and Associate Professor Concordia University
Dr. Pamela Palmater
Chair in Indigenous Governance Toronto Metropolitan University
Roxanne Panchasi
Associate Professor, Department of History Simon Fraser University
Ajay Parasram
Associate Professor Dalhousie University
Gar Pardy
Former Canadian Ambassador
Laila Parsons
Professor of Modern Middle East History McGill University
The Honourable Kim Pate, C.M.
Senator for Ontario and Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Viviana Patroni
Professor Emerita, International Development Studies
York University
Dr. Martha Paynter, PhD
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing University of New Brunswick
Dr Karen Pearlston Professor of Law (Ret.)
University of New Brunswick
Roberto Perin
Professor Emeritus, History Department York University
André Perrault
Membre du Barreau du Québec (1981-2020)
Julietta Perucca
Deputy Director, The Shift
Cindy Phillips
Barrister and Solicitor, Adjunct Professor University of British Columbia
Justin Piché, PhD
Full Professor, Criminology University of Ottawa
Elizabeth Pickett
Assistant Professor (Retired) Carleton University
Nicholas Pope Human rights lawyer
Bruce Porter
Executive Director, Social Rights Advocacy Centre
Nathan Prier President
Canadian Association of Professional Employees
Carolyn Prouse
Associate Professor Queen's University
Tavleen Purewal
Assistant Professor, Department of English University of New Brunswick
Debbie Rachlis
Barrister and Solicitor
Saeed Rahnema, PhD
Professor rtd., Political Science and Public Policy York University
Sharayer Rajabi
Barrister and Solicitor
Diana Ralph, Ph.D.
Retired Associate Professor Carleton University
Joshua Ramisch
Professeur Titulaire, École de développement international et mondialisation
Université d’Ottawa
Sara Rans
Chair, Independent Jewish Voices Canada
Aditya Rao
Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre
Derek Rasmussen, PhD Legal researcher
Tariq Rauf
Former Head of Verification and Security Policy, International Atomic Energy Agency
Arif Raza
Barrister and Solicitor
Judy Rebick Writer
Byron Rempel-Burkholder
Chair, Mennonite Church Canada Palestine- Israel Network
Mark Andrew Reynolds Barrister and Solicitor
Gordon Ritchie
Former federal deputy minister and ambassador for free trade negotiations
Yvon Rivard
Professeur retraité Université McGill
Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C.
Former Senator and Ambassador
Allan Rock, P.C., C.M., K.C.
Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations
Sanda Rodgers
Professor Emerita, Faculty of Law University of Ottawa
Jillian Rogin
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law University of Windsor
Heather Joy Ross
Barrister and Solicitor
Maia Rotman
Barrister & Solicitor
Chris Rudnicki
Criminal appeal lawyer
Bruce Ryder
Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School York University
Kathleen Ruff
Human Rights Advocate
Kim Rygiel
Professor, Department of Political Science and Balsillie School of International Affairs
Wilfrid Laurier University
Laila Sahyoun Attorney at Law
Daniel Sailofsky
Assistant Professor University of Toronto
Alina Sajed
Associate Professor McMaster University.
Ariel Salzmann
Associate Professor, Islamic and World History Department of History, Queen's University
Isaac Saney, PhD
Associate Professor and Coordinator, Black and African Diaspora Studies, Dean’s Office, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Dalhousie University; Adjunct Professor, Department of History, Saint Mary's University
Jim Sannes
President, Board of Directors, Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice
Haig E. Sarafian
Retired Canadian Ambassador
Derek Sayer, FRSC Professor emeritus University of Alberta
William Schabas, OC
Professor of International Law Middlesex University
Eric Schiller
Retired Professor, Civil Engineering University of Ottawa
Pamela Scholey
Former Coordinator, Task Force on International Critical Incidents, Global Affairs Canada (retired)
Craig Scott
Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School York University
Michaelin Scott
Barrister and Solicitor
Joshua Sealy-Harrington
Associate Professor and Chair of Equality, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor
Michel Seymour Professeur honoraire
Université de Montréal
Elizabeth Sheehy, F.R.S.C., O. Ont. Professor Emerita of Law
Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Tyler Shipley
Professor, Liberal Studies Humber Polytechnic
Nadia Shivji
Vice Chair, Canadian Association of Muslim Lawyers, Atlantic Chapter
Sid Shniad
Founding Member, Independent Jewish Voices Canada
Shibil Siddiqi
Human Rights Lawyer
Shadman Siddiky
Barrister and Solicitor
Penelope Simons
Professor and Gordon F. Henderson Chair in Human Rights, Faculty of Common Law
University of Ottawa
Dr. Anne-Marie Singh Professor
Toronto Metropolitan University
Rachel Singleton-Polster
Senior Human Rights Advocate, Feminist Alliance for International Action
Tammara Soma PhD RPP, MCIP
Associate Professor, School of Resource and Environmental Management (Planning) Simon Fraser University
George Somerwill
Former Director of Communications , UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Past President UN Association in Canada, Vancouver Branch
Jesook Song Professor
University of Toronto
Timea Spitka
Adjunct Research Professor, Norman Patterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University
Peter Splinter
Former Amnesty International Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and Canadian diplomat
Susan Spronk
Associate Professor, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa
Katrina Sriranpong Lawyer (retired)
Penni Stewart
Professor Emerita, Department of Sociology, York University
Christine Straehle
Full Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
University of Ottawa
Anna Su
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law University of Toronto
Mira Sucharov
Professor of Political Science Carleton University
Ameena Sultan
Barrister and Solicitor
Gökbörü Sarp Tanyildiz
Assistant Professor of Sociology Brock University
Omar Tabsh
Barrister and Solicitor
Nazira Naz Tareen
Founding President, Ottawa Muslim Women’s Organization
Dr. Heather Tasker
Assistant Professor of Political Science and Law, Justice & Society, Dalhousie University
Dr Marcus Taylor
Professor, Global Development Studies Queen's University
Nancy Thede
Professeure retraitée, Département de science politique, Université du Québec à Montréal
Tracey Thomas-Falconar
Former Manager of Homeless and Disaster Operations, Canadian Red Cross
Dr. Kristen Thomasen
Associate Professor and Chair in Law, Robot
