TORONTO – Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released its 2024–2025 annual report entitled Cultivating a Culture of Dignity and Respect: A Shared Responsibility. This report provides an overview of the OHRC’s efforts to fulfil its mandate to the public.
Over the past year, the OHRC has addressed systemic discrimination and amplified the voices of its collaborators, highlighting shared responsibilities. This work has covered various areas, including educational reforms, celebrating Ontarians who foster a human rights culture in Ontario by volunteering, tackling Indigenous-specific discrimination in Ontario’s healthcare system, and collaborations aimed at mitigating the impacts of technology on human rights.
Some specific highlights of the OHRC’s efforts this year include:
- providing a status report on the Two-Year Anniversary Update of the Right to Read Inquiry Report to ensure all Ontario students have access to the supports they need to learn to read
- launching Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Ontario’s Public Education System, an Action Plan which calls on duty-holders to take immediate and decisive steps to address the discrimination Black students and educators experience in the public education system
- working with the Law Commission of Ontario to deliver the Human Rights Impact Assessment tool to help organizations assess and mitigate the human rights impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems
- celebrating human rights champions through the second biennial Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Awards
“Global crises and this season of uncertainty should reinforce our commitment to democracy. Times like these, should remind us that the Ontario Human Rights Code assists in addressing discrimination in education, health, housing, and employment—key socio-economic determinants, which reinforce democracy and help impact the lives of all of us, especially the most marginalized,” said OHRC Chief Commissioner Patricia DeGuire. The Commission remains dedicated to working tirelessly with rights-holders and duty-holders to promote adherence to the Code and foster a culture of dignity and respect in all communities. To these ends, the Commission invites all Ontarians to join in sharing this responsibility.”
Ontario is home to over 16.1 million people with diverse abilities, backgrounds, and identities. These achievements and ongoing efforts of the OHRC highlight the need for cultural transformation to ensure inclusivity and a strong sense of belonging for everyone, allowing every individual to live, work, and play in a democratic province free from discrimination.
Quick Facts
- 23,337 users accessed the OHRC’s e-learning course Call it out: Racism, Racial Discrimination, and Human Rights in 2024-25.
- Over 233 community members participated in virtual and in-person sessions to share about their experiences and support the release of Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Ontario’s Public Education System
- Over 215,238 people accessed OHRC eLearning in 2024-25.
Learn More
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Media contact:
Nick Lombardi – Senior Strategic Communications Advisor
Ontario Human Rights Commission
Email: nick.lombardi@ohrc.on.ca
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