Our Mission

Equitas works for the advancement of equality, social justice and respect for human dignity in Canada and around the world through transformative human rights education programs. Equitas’ exclusive focus on education as a means to advance human rights has allowed us to develop a level of expertise that is recognized globally. Rather than running campaigns and producing reports ourselves, we equip local human rights defender and educators with tools to become more effective educators, advocates and monitors themselves. While our programs began in Canada in the 1960, since the 1990s the reach of our human rights education programs has been truly global.

Human Rights Education is all learning that builds knowledge, skills, as well as attitudes and behaviours that advance the human rights principles and values contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related human rights conventions and procedures.

Human rights education is a process of empowerment that begins with the individual and branches out to the society at large. Human rights education envisions social change, which involves the advancement of equality, justice and respect for human dignity. It aims towards developing an understanding of everyone’s common responsibility to make human rights a reality in each community and in the society at large.

Our Vision

Our innovative programs equip organizations and the communities they serve to build a global culture of human rights.

Equitas believes that human rights education plays a crucial role in shaping attitudes and building positive behaviours. We recognize that human rights progress will only be sustainable once a community has assimilated human rights values and these values become imbedded in a local culture. While mechanisms to promote and protect human rights are important, human rights are also about how we live our lives and interact with our neighbours. All of our programs encourage this personal reflection on values, attitudes and behaviour and provide participants with skills to lead these reflections in their own communities.

Our Values

In addition to the inspiration we take from the principles and values of human rights, all our work and interaction with stakeholders are guided by the following organizational values:

• Integrity

• Focus and Direction

• Trust and Mutual Respect

• Openness

• Partnership

• Innovation