Parveen Parmar, director of advocacy at the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and a practicing lawyer, outlines their mission to advance human rights education across the prairies. Funded by the McConnell Foundation, the Centre’s five-year initiative has spent three years delivering workshops in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, focusing on accountability, systemic engagement, and anti-oppression frameworks.
The program trains communities to navigate international human rights mechanisms, such as filing complaints with United Nations bodies, while addressing localized challenges like systemic discrimination and resource gaps among civil society groups. Recent sessions in Portage la Prairie included strategies for building advocacy pathways, mobilizing networks, and pursuing policy reform when traditional systems fail.
Grassroots education across the prairies
Parmar emphasizes the centre’s roots in the legacy of John Peters Humphrey, a principal drafter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “We were born out of the need to disseminate human rights knowledge and expertise,” she says.
The workshops blend theoretical frameworks with practical tools, including creating fictitious or real-life case studies to design advocacy strategies. Participants also explore alternatives to formal complaints, such as community mobilization and legal reform.
“Instead of just using complaint systems, what else can you do when those fail us? This includes mobilizing within community, networking, education, policy, and law reform,” notes Parmar.
Building networks, combating burnout
A key focus is bridging gaps between isolated advocates and organizations. Parmar stresses collaboration to prevent duplicated efforts in under-resourced sectors. “There’s so much burnout within this civil society sector… mobilizing and activating that network is critical,” she adds.
The centre provides free online resources, including toolkits and reports on disability rights, food sovereignty, and combating online hate, through its website, www.jhcentre.org.
“We’re blown away by the community spirit”
Reflecting on their reception in Portage la Prairie, Parmar highlights local warmth. “We’ve never had people from the community come out to meet us on day zero just to welcome us,” she continues. “It reflects the community’s strength and how we’re blown away by that.”
The John Humphrey Centre plans to expand its Prairie workshops, prioritizing grassroots collaboration to strengthen human rights advocacy nationwide.