Searching for Human Rights

Advice line for French-speaking clients

Services

• Immigration
• Housing (tenants only)
• Human rights
• Social assistance
• Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Employment rights

Non-governmental organization

• recognizes human dignity and promotes the well-being of all trafficked persons, including persons who have been trafficked from other countries, as well as Canadian residents who may have been trafficked within Canada's borders

Advocacy for trafficked persons

• secures the essential services that trafficked persons require to take back control of their bodies and their lives
• networks with other groups to prevent the trafficking of persons and to increase the protection of those who have been trafficked

Information and referrals

• support
• conducts public education and campaigns and provides experienced speakers

Tribunal

• protects individuals from discrimination
• states that all Canadians have the right to equality, equal opportunity, fair treatment, and an environment free of discrimination
• legally decides whether a person or organization has engaged in a discriminatory practice under the Canadian Human Rights Act
• applies these principles to cases that are referred to it by the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC)

Grant-making organization that provides direct financial support to women's rights organizations in the global South

• the fund supports women to dismantle barriers, challenge perceptions, and change the world for women and girls and trans folk

International cooperation and development organization

• founded in 1961
• works in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Canada

Focuses on:

• creating economic and social opportunities for marginalized groups
• advancing gender equality and social inclusion
• improving economic resilience and delivering progress on climate action

Organization that creates and connects individuals and communities to inclusive spaces (for prayers, discussion, and reflection) around the world, where everyone, of every gender, orientation and/or faith is welcome

• holds mixed congregational prayers led by any gender, Meccan style
• supports the institution of marriage, including interfaith marriages and same sex unions, and locates inclusive Muslim officiators for nikkahs
• global justice advocacy
• advocacy for the Muslim, Feminist, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) communities
• Gender Jihad program: leads and supports the entitlement of women to self-determination
• interfaith and intra-faith gatherings
• various social events

Legal services

• supports actions aimed at equal access to justice in French through close collaboration with other government, community and legal organizations
• provides tools to justice professionals so that they can offer their services in French
• informs and equips the general public to develop an understanding of, and capacity to participate in, the legal system in French

Non-profit organization which supports immigrant and refugees from Nepal

• includes Nepalese speaking Bhutanese refugee during their integration into Canadian life
• provides special support to those who are dealing with extreme anxiety, stress and PTSD
• provides counseling, settlement and information to help them get settled
• works as a bridge between clients and service providers
• currently we are serving 58 seniors directly and about 300 people indirectly

Main focus

• intergenerational activities once a week
• seniors support and provide socialization activities
• crisis support/student support

Community legal clinic

• Provides legal advice Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Employment Law
• Human Rights Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Old Age Supplement
• Ontario Works (OW)
• Tenant Law
• Victims of Crime
• Workers' Compensation/Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)

Does not offer services in criminal or family law (divorce, separation, custody, support, etc.), provincial or criminal offenses

Does not advise landlords

Satellite offices are located in Alexandria and Williamsburg by appointment only

Legal clinic

Services

• employment law and workers' compensation
• Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Supplement
• human rights and victims of crime
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works
• Tenant Law

The Alexandria and Williamsburg locations are satellite clinics. Call for an appointment.

Not for profit charity

• assists women and children in developing countries who are in need of food, shelter, clothing, education, health care, and emotional and moral support
• operates nine homes in India, Nepal, Tibet in China and Bangladesh to carry out this goal

Human rights advisory services providing human rights related training, information, support, and referrals on topics related to discrimination or harassment based on human rights grounds such as:

• sex
• race
• ancestry
• sexual orientation
• gender identity
• disability
• age
• religion
• mental health
• accessibility
• accommodation

Supports self help community development programs in developing countries and in Canada

• implements the Convention on the Rights of the Child
• fundraising
• public awareness

Promotes legal protection of civil rights and liberties, particularly with reference to freedom of expression, police powers, government intrusions

• organizes court interventions
• presents briefs to provincial and federal legislative committees
• provides deputations to public inquiries
• education programme provides seminars and workshops in schools and education faculties
• does not provide legal advice

Resolves disputes under the Human Rights Code and maintains neutrality

• does not defend, represent or advise either person or organization
• holds mediations and hearings

Administers and enforces Ontario Human Rights Code, which prohibits discrimination in employment, accommodation, contracts, vocational associations, or goods, services and facilities, based on age (16 years and older in accommodation, 18 years and older in services and 18-65 years in employment), sex (includes pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status (includes common law), same sex partnership status, family status, physical or mental disability, race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, receipt of public assistance (in accommodation), record of offences (in employment) and reprisal or threat of reprisal

Partner agency in Ontario Human Rights System with Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC) -- see separate listings

under auspices of Social Justice Tribunals Ontario

Legal advice and support, including possible representation and application assistance for applicants to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario

COVID19 -- staff working remotely
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National organization promoting equality for women, girls, and people who experience gender-based discrimination

• intervenes in court cases to challenge discrimination against women using the equality guarantees of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• focus includes immigrant and visible minority women, women with disabilities and Aboriginal women
• research
• does not provide general legal advice and is not a legal clinic

Works to protect, promote and advance respect for human rights

• may initiate applications or intervene in cases before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
• policy development, research and analysis
• public education and training
• reports to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Working Together -- e-learning training video for public, private and not-for-profit sectors towards completing Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) requirements

COVID19 -- walk in services suspended, call 416-971-9674

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Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with immigration, tenant issues, social assistance, employment rights, human rights, poverty law
• most refugee cases referred to Legal Aid
• may provide representation
• summary advice in domestic violence and other family law cases
• community education
• speakers
• law reform
• community advocacy
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- telephone inquiries only, online information about housing security during the COVID19 emergency
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Legal clinic focusing on individual and systemic anti-Black racism

• legal representation
• test case litigation
• law reform and community development
• summary legal advice, brief services and public legal education
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Groups:

• take action to free prisoners of conscience, protect refugees, abolish the death penalty, and end political killings and disappearances, torture and other grave human rights abuses
• promote the full range of human rights of all people everywhere.
• impartially research and expose specific violations, then mobilizes public pressure to stop these violations
• work is based on international human rights standards, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

To find a group, click on this link