1967: John Humphrey returns to McGill University;

Equitas (then known as The Canadian Human Rights Foundation) was founded by a group of scholars and social activists with the mandate to advance democracy, human development, peace and social justice through education programs when John Humphrey, one of the drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, left his position at the United Nations to return to McGill University.

Other founding members of the organization include The Hon. Harry Batshaw, Ms. Beatrice Bazar, Senator Thérèse Casgrain, Prof. Maxwell Cohen, Prof. Paul Crépeau, H.E. Jules Deschênes, Mr. Jacques Gagnon and Dr. Gustave Gingras.

From the McGill Faculty Club to National Prominence

The organization initiates pioneering national research, conferences and publications on human rights issues: racism, aboriginal rights, minority rights, rights of the aged and more.

An Annual Human Rights Training Program

An annual summer program in Prince Edward Island is launched for Canadian law students. The organization continues to do research and hold conferences on human rights issues.

The International Human Rights Training Program

Equitas adopts the participatory approach for all its education programs. With funding from Canadian government agencies, international participation in the summer program grows so that by the end of the decade, the program attracts 120 human rights educators a year from over 60 countries annually. The first activity overseas takes place in Bratislava in 1995 to be followed by many more in Asia and Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union.

Spreading Knowledge At Home And Globally

Fully fledged education and training programs taking place in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Central and Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North Africa in partnerships with organizations that have participated in the International Human Rights Training Program focusing on:

• Training of Human Rights Trainers

• Formal and Informal Human Rights Education for Children

• The Protection of vulnerable groups in society, including: Women, Migrant Workers, Children and Minorities

• The Strengthening of Independent National Human Rights Institutions and Government Agencies mandated to promote and protect human rights

• The Promotion and Protection of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Training in Human Rights Advocacy and Monitoring

2004: The Play it Fair! program was launched and its educational toolkit is now in use in day camps and after school programs across Canada.

2005: The name of the organization is changed from the Canadian Human Rights Foundation to Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education.

2008: The Global Human Rights Education Program was launched, building upon the experience of the International Human Rights Training Program to provide systematic follow-up and support to the alumni of Equitas programs to further enable them to become more effective agents of social change in their communities

2009: Equitas’ Play it Fair! program was awarded the Prix Québécois de la citoyenneté – Anne Greenup in recognition of its contribution to the fight against racism.

2010: Speaking Rights, a program for 13-17 year olds, was launched.