Human rights education
Workshops on the Universal Declaration, the Canadian Charter, and rights at work, at school and with police — in Persian and English, for adults and for teens. Know what you're entitled to, here.
Promoting human rights · حقوق بشر و جامعهٔ مدنی
A community that knows its rights, and uses its voice.
Human rights education, public awareness, support for those who speak up, and the everyday work of civil society — how to organize, how to be heard, how to build something that lasts. Nonpartisan, nonviolent, and grounded in facts.
Our principles
Four lines we don't cross.
- Nonpartisan. We don't endorse parties, candidates, movements or governments — in Canada, the United States or Iran. Our events are open to Iranians of every political view, and we ask everyone in the room to extend the same courtesy.
- Nonviolent. We promote rights through education, documentation, dialogue and lawful civic action. Nothing else.
- Fact-based. We rely on the work of established human rights organizations and verified reporting. We say when we don't know.
- Safe. We understand that many in our community have family in Iran. Participation is never recorded or published without consent, and anyone may take part anonymously.
What we do.
Human rights as they affect Iranians and Persian speakers — at home, in Iran, and anywhere in between.
Public awareness
Panel discussions, film screenings, exhibits and vigils that bring the situation of women, minorities, journalists, students and prisoners of conscience in Iran to a Canadian audience — with the people who lived it.
Support for advocates
A confidential space for activists, journalists and families of political prisoners in our community: peer support, referrals to trauma-informed Persian-speaking counsellors, and help connecting with established rights organizations and, where appropriate, elected representatives.
Documentation help
Guidance on preserving testimony, photos and records safely, and on which organizations accept and verify them — so that what happened is not lost and is not misused.
Rights in Canada
Help when a member of our community faces discrimination, an unfair dismissal, a landlord problem or trouble with an institution: understanding your options and finding the right clinic, ombudsman or tribunal.
Partnerships
We work with established Canadian and international human rights organizations, legal clinics and universities rather than duplicating them. If they do it better, we'll send you there.
Establishing civil society · جامعهٔ مدنی
Civil society is a habit. We practise it.
A community that can run a meeting, keep books, hold a vote and disagree without splitting is a community that can look after itself. These workshops teach the craft.
How Canada works
Municipal, provincial and federal government explained; how to vote, how to contact your MP or MLA, how to speak at council, how a bill becomes law. For newcomers and for anyone who never learned.
Start something
How to incorporate a nonprofit or society, write bylaws, recruit a board, open a bank account, apply for a grant and file your first annual return. We share our own templates.
Run a good meeting
Agendas, minutes, motions, quorum and consensus. The unglamorous skills that keep community organizations from falling apart in year two.
Organize your neighbours
Petitions, delegations, coalitions and media: how residents get a crosswalk, a community garden or a Persian collection at the library. Lawful, local and effective.
Youth civic leadership
A program for Iranian-Canadian teens: mock council, a community project of their choosing, and a visit to city hall or the legislature.
Media & information literacy
How to check a claim, spot a manipulated image, and read Persian-language news critically. Especially relevant to a community targeted by disinformation from several directions.
Come to something
Events and workshops
Human rights and civic programs are announced with our other events. Most are free, most are held online via Zoom or Teams, and all are open to the public.
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Talk to us confidentially
If you or your family are affected by what's happening in Iran, or facing a rights issue here, reach out. We'll listen first, then help you find the right people.
Reach out