Annual Conference of the Canadian Association of
Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA-ACCCDP)

Dare to reach higher!
Rights and freedoms: organizations and issues
at stake

	Conference objectives Program (Conference and Activity – Biographical notes) Proceedings (Available soon) For information To learn more about: Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies  Human Rights Commissions and Councils in Canada

President's message

It is a pleasure for me to invite you to the annual Conference of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA), to be held in Montreal from June 15 to 16, 2009.

In recent years, statutory human rights agencies in Canada have undergone a series of major changes, which have directly and indirectly modified existing systems to protect human rights. The annual Conference will provide an ideal forum to examine and analyze the significance, extent, implications and limits of the main changes made to the systems to uphold and protect human rights.

First, what is the current state of governmental human rights agencies in Canada? The question cannot be answered without considering the context. New human rights issues have emerged and some older concerns have returned with a new edge. What are these issues? What impact do they have on the systems established to uphold and protect human rights? This will be the main focus of debate in which you are invited to participate.

Information regarding the Conference themes and objectives as well as a Conference registration form are contained herein.

I invite you to contribute your insights and experience in the hope that we will strengthen our collective resolve to continue to protect human rights and freedoms and I look forward to greeting you in Montreal.

Best regards,

Gaétan Cousineau
President, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
Vice-president, CASHRA - ACCCDP 2009