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Opening Session (9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) - Session Objectives, Welcoming Remarks and Participant Introductions
Session Overview
Rémy Beauregard, Executive Director, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Welcoming Remarks
Keith Norton, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Yves Lafontaine, Chairman of the Board, Canadian Human Rights Foundation
Participant Introductions
Participants will introduce themselves
Session 1(9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.) - Setting the Stage
Panel: “Trends and Current Issues for Human Rights Commissions”
Prof. Harish Jain, Member of Canadian Human Rights Act Review Panel
Rev. Lois Wilson, Member of the Canadian Senate
Moderator: Pearl Eliadis, Director of Policy and Education, OHRC
Group Discussion
Based on the presentations and the participants’ knowledge and experience, the group will discuss emerging issues relevant to human rights commissions
Session 2 (11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) - International Norms and Best Practices Related to Human Rights Commissions
Presentation: “The Paris Principles in Practice: Lessons from Abroad”
Brian Burdekin, Special Advisor on National Institutions,
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Moderator: Ian Hamilton, Director of Programs, CHRF
Open Forum
Questions and Discussion
LUNCH (12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.) - Keynote Address: “The Interdependence of Human Rights”
Maxwell Yalden, Member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee and former Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission
Introduction of Speaker: Keith Norton, Chief Commissioner, OHRC
Session 3 (1:35 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.) - Domestic Implementation of International Human Rights Standards
Panel: “Domestic Obligations & the Role of Human Rights Commissions”
Prof. Martha Jackman, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law (Common Law)
Prof. François Crépeau, Université du Québec à Montréal, Faculty of Law
Brian Burdekin, Special Advisor on National Institutions, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Moderator: Yves Lafontaine, Chairman of the Board, CHRF
Session 4 (3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.) - Strategies for Human Rights Commissions and Priorities for Follow-up
Group Discussion and Synthesis: “Where Do We Go from Here?”
Moderator: Keith Norton, Chief Commissioner, OHRC
Concluding Session - Session Wrap-Up
Closing Remarks and Thanks
Keith Norton, Chief Commissioner, OHRC
Yves Lafontaine, Chairman of the Board, CHRF