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OHRC’s Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) prepares this submission to provide information to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism on the OHRC’s work over two decades navigating intersectionality from a racial justice perspective. This submission aims to assist the Special Rapporteur in the preparation of her report to the 59th session of the Human Rights Council as well as support human rights advocacy in Ontario.

Accountability and timely action key to addressing systemic discrimination in policing

February 15, 2023

On February 1, 2023, five Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers in British Columbia were charged with manslaughter and obstruction of justice in the 2017 death of Dale Culver, a member of Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan First Nations, and father of three children who was killed in custody. 

Combatting anti-Indigenous discrimination and harassment in retail settings

July 17, 2025
TORONTO – Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), and the Indigenous Human Rights Program (a partnership between Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)) released a guide and two fact sheets, to address anti-Indigenous discrimination and harassment in retail. These resources provide practical human rights information to retailers and Indigenous people (shoppers or retail staff members) on recognizing, preventing, and remedying anti-Indigenous discrimination and harassment in retail settings.

Submission to the United Nations International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) prepares this submission to provide information to the United Nations (UN) International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (Expert Mechanism). This submission aims to assist the Expert Mechanism in the preparation of their fourth report to the Human Rights Council, which focuses on systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the criminal justice system. This submission also aims to amplify the OHRC’s advocacy against racial discrimination, particularly anti-Black discrimination, in Ontario’s criminal justice system for the benefit of all Ontarians.

Ontario Human Rights Commission is Calling for Written Submissions to Develop an Action Plan to Tackle Anti-Black Racism in Education

June 27, 2023

TORONTO — The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has reached an important milestone with the release of its What We Heard Report on anti-Black racism in Ontario’s publicly-funded Education System.

Anti-Black Racism in Education: Call for Written Submissions

The OHRC launched its What We Heard Report on anti-Black racism in education. To continue engaging in dialogue with other key partners and stakeholders in education, the OHRC is issuing a call for written submissions on concrete solutions to address anti-Black racism in Ontario’s publicly funded education system. The goal is to gather additional information including recommendations for solutions and action to empower and hold duty-holders accountable.

Anti-Black Racism in Education Engagement Guide

On June 27, 2023, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released its Anti-Black Racism in Education Roundtables: What We Heard Report. The roundtables held in April 2023, provided a space for students and duty-holders in the education sector to share solution-focused and action-oriented recommendations.

For the next action, the OHRC is calling on key partners and stakeholders in education for written submissions on concrete and practical solutions to address anti-Black racism in Ontario’s publicly funded education system. This step is to develop an ongoing dialogue with those key partners and stakeholders, and gather additional information, including actions for implementation, to empower, and to hold duty-holders accountable.