EquiTalks

Every year, Equitas hosts the #EquiTalks, an exciting series of events that brings together leading thinkers and doers from the community, academic, philanthropic, and corporate sectors to share experiences and good practices that contribute to building more inclusive and rights-respecting communities.

As the circumstances of the world shift every year, so has the focus of each EquiTalks. In 2020, Equitas hosted our first ever virtual EquiTalks. The context of a pandemic made the facilitation of powerful conversations and knowledge-sharing on defending human rights more crucial than ever.  

The innovation of a virtual EquiTalks enabled us to expand accessibility of the events to people across the globe and with varying levels of mobility. Either online or in-person, EquiTalks creates opportunities for connection among community members, decision-makers, and people curious to learn about human rights. Each EquiTalks incorporates engaging panel discussions and networking opportunities for participants. 

In October 2022, the EquiTalks were back for an inspiring panel discussion with Marie-Claude Landry, Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and many other leaders committed to building a culture of human rights. The event took place in-person, downtown Toronto and was also broadcast live from 6pm EST. Theses EquiTalks focused on the mission of the Compendium of Good Practices in Human Rights Education.

In Spring of 2022, we hosted a virtual panel discussion on Heart, Humanity, and Defending Human Rights with Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. This event brought together diverse panelists from across the world working towards social change in the areas of LGBTQ+, Indigenous, disability, and civil rights. The conversation included participants from more than 45 countries. 

In 2021, we focused on the role of youth as important changemakers during the COVID-19 pandemic with our guest speaker, Jayathma Wickramanayake, the United Nations Secretary General’s Envoy for Youth. This event convened more than 200 participants, including youth activists and representatives of youth civil society organizations, to discuss how youth are redefining social change.  

In 2020, we united people virtually to explore the impacts and challenges of LGBTQ2I human rights defenders in Canada and internationally as well as Canada’s role in supporting LGBTQI refugees and newcomers with Victor Madrigal Borloz, United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. These events brought together close to 350 individuals from 33 countries. 

 “I thought it was an excellent sharing of key concerns, constraints, and opportunities for youths in today’s society and growing social issues. Being close to twice the age of most attendees, it was also an excellent learning opportunity for older generations also concerned with this.”

– Participant of EquiTalks 2021

“… Although I missed the face-to-face exchanges immensely, I am delighted with the richness of the exchanges and very grateful for the opportunity to debate and exchange with policy makers and human rights advocates on the rights of LGBTQ2I people in Canada and around the world.”

– Victor Madrigal-Borloz, United Nations Independent Expert on Protection from Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

EquiTalks: Voices of Human Rights Education

Whether you’re able to attend the EquiTalks events or not, be sure to listen to our EquiTalks: Voices of Human Rights Education podcast! In this podcast, you can continue to access stimulating conversations about innovative approaches to human rights education and the insights and experiences of human rights defenders.

Click here to access the episodes!

Equitas works with corporate partners that are committed to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion across Canada and around the world. We welcome new partners who want to being part of building more inclusive and more equitable communities.

The most recent EquiTalks were made possible thanks to the support of: