Public Interest Information Fair

Fauteux Hall, Atrium Lounge 3^rd Floor

February 17, 2006, 12:00 – 1:30 PM,

Hosted by Probono,  CLAIHR U of O Chapter, and  University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, Career services

Oxfam Canada is dedicated to fighting poverty and injustice around the world. We believe that every individual is entitled to an income, an education, affordable health-care, protection from disasters and violence, equality of opportunity and the right to have a say in his or her own future. We work with people in poor communities, with local partner organizations at home and abroad and with members, volunteers and financial supporters to make this a reality. Oxfam Canada is a member of Oxfam International, a federation of twelve, autonomous non-governmental organizations.

Human Rights Internet (HRI) is an Ottawa based non-governmental organization with a mandate to act as a consulting and capacity-building organization committed to the promotion of human rights in the areas of conflict prevention, good governance and social justice.  HRI works with governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental players to target policy change, disseminate information and empower marginalized groups.

Beyond Borders is dedicated to advancing the rights of children to be free from sexual abuse and exploitation without regard to race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. Beyond Borders is the Canadian affiliate of ECPAT International, Bangkok, Thailand (End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes). Our group does not have any religious or political affiliations and is made up solely of volunteers

The Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC) was founded to facilitate the adoption of and implementation by Canada of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991. Since then, it has grown to ensure a collective voice for over 50 national and provincial non-government organizations (NGOs), as well as individuals and youth, committed to promoting and protecting the rights of children in Canada and abroad.  The Coalition carries out its mandate by:

·         monitoring the implementation in Canada of the Convention and the National Plan of Action from the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children, as well as all other international treaties related to children's rights, including the Optional Protocol on Children and Armed Conflict, the Optional Protocol on Sexual Exploitation, the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Hague Conventions on civil matters relating to children and even trade agreements);

·         establishing international, national, provincial, regional and local links with organizations concerned with the well-being of children;

·         fostering the education and awareness in Canada of the rights of children, especially among young Canadians;

·         acting as an information network in Canada for materials related to the Convention; and

·         ensuring that both Canada's domestic and foreign policies and actions respect and protect the rights and dignity of the young.

International Red Cross Canadian Red Cross international programs help the most vulnerable – victims of armed conflicts and communities destroyed by devastating disasters. Canadian Red Cross is one of the 182 National Societies that along with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) make up the world's largest humanitarian network – also known as the International Red Cross Movement.

As part of the emergency relief operations, we work in partnership with other members of the Red Cross Movement to bring relief supplies to victims, reunite families and help communities get back on their feet. We also manage longer term development and rehabilitation programs. Another major contribution is provided in the form of Canadian personnel who have the required specific skills and expertise and are dispatched to work on Red Cross projects overseas. In addition, Canadian Red Cross – often with the generous support of the Canadian public and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) – makes financial contributions to support the relief efforts.

Pro Bono Students Canada is a network of law schools, law students, community organizations and lawyers all working together to solve traditionally unmet legal problems.  PBSC encourages students and legal professionals to volunteer in their communities to provide underrepresented and disadvantaged individuals, groups, and organizations with pro bono legal services and access to justice.  PBSC facilitates these efforts by matching volunteer law students with non-profit organizations, government agencies, individuals, and other public interest groups to provide information and research in a legal context. All student work is supervised by a volunteer lawyer.

Pro Bono Students Canada est un réseau juridique comprenant des facultés de droit et leurs étudiants et étudiantes, des organismes communautaires et des avocats qui travaillent ensemble pour résoudre des problèmes légaux qui restent traditionnellement sans réponse.  PBSC encourage les étudiants et étudiantes et les juristes à faire du bénévolat dans leur communauté afin de permettre aux individus, groupes et organismes sous-représentés et désavantagés de bénéficier de services juridiques pro bono et de leur donner un accès à la justice.  PBSC facilite ce processus en jumelant des étudiants et étudiantes bénévoles avec des organismes sans but lucratif, des agences gouvernementales, des individus, et d’autres groupes d’intérêt public pour leur fournir de l’information et de la recherche dans un contexte juridique. Tout le travail étudiant est supervisé par un avocat bénévole. 

International Social Service Canada (ISS Canada) is a non-profit agency that provides linkages to social service agencies world wide. As part of an international network, ISS Canada helps resolve individual and family problems resulting from the movement of people across national borders.  The mission of ISS Canada reflects the objectives of International Social Service, a network of National Branches, Affiliated Bureaus and Correspondents that facilitates communication among social services in different countries in order to resolve socio-legal problems of individuals and families resulting from migration and international mobility. This objective is realized through the management of cases referred for intercountry services in the ISS network. ISS Canada is the centre for referrals involving Canada.  

ISS also investigates and reports on the conditions and consequences of migrations from an international standpoint in order to bring about appropriate safeguards and remedies. ISS Canada cooperates with federal and provincial government departments in the development and promotion of national and international policies and conventions related to the protection of children and adults.

Human Rights and Research Education Centre (HRREC) has been delivering an active and extensive program out of the University of Ottawa, Canada, since May 1981. The Centre was the brainchild of Canada's former Ambassador to the United Nations, the distinguished Yvon Beaulne. Supporting his proposal to the Rector was Gordon Fairweather, then the Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The Senate of the University responded to the challenge by creating the oldest national university-based human rights institute in Canada. Ottawa is a natural site for such an institute: in the nation's capital, at a university committed to bilingualism and associated with a law faculty that serves in both the Civil and Common law traditions. The mandate of HRREC include:

·         Furthering the discussion of the linkages between human rights, governance, legal reform and development;

·         Supporting national human rights institutions in Canada and Abroad;

·         Evaluating and working to improve domestic social justice institutions and programs;

·         Engaging in multidisciplinary research and education in the above areas

National Council on Canadian-Arab Relations (NCCAR) was established in 1985 by Canadians who believe that our national interest is best served through expanded knowledge, social, scientific and educational exchange with the Arab world. NCCAR works with governments, the private sector and community organizations to promote and assist programs that increase Canadian awareness and knowledge of the Arab world, and to encourage the expansion of commercial, scientific, educational and cultural links between Canadian and Arab institutions. NCCAR activities include:

§         Promoting greater recognition of the social, economic, political and cultural contribution of Arab-Canadians to Canada

§         Making information related to the Arab world available to individuals, organizations, educational institutions, libraries, media and Canadian provincial and federal governments

§         Publishing a monthly newsletter and a quarterly journal (Arabica), which highlights our organizational achievements, current political and economic issues relating to Canada and the Arab world and to the Arab-Canadian community, educational programs, and upcoming events

§         Promoting speakers that provide information on the Arab world.

§         Sponsoring study tours and speaker tours between Canada and the Arab world

§         Sponsoring and coordinating the NCCAR Parliamentary Internship Program for Arab-Canadian university students

§         Supporting cultural and historical exhibitions between Canada and the Arab world, such as: Min Zamaan-Since Long Ago: The Syrian-Lebanese Presence in Montreal between 1882-1940, an exhibit presently open in Montreal

National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO) is a non-profit, non partisan organization that represents the interests of low-income people in Canada. NAPO works for the eradication of poverty in Canada by ensuring the concern of low--income people are reflected in federal policy and decision making; defending the human and economic rights of low-income people; and assisting local and regional organizations to bring voices of low-income people in Canada to decision making and policy making processes in their communities. NAPO offers an excellent resource centre open to the public and to media enquiries, speakers for conferences or other events, and workshop facilitation and research assistance. The range of issues addressed by NAPO is diverse but includes such topics as:

·         social assistance,

·         unemployment,

·         social housing,

·         Federal budget priorities,

·         human rights,

·         minimum wages,

·         youth poverty,

The Catholic Immigration Centre (CIC) helps newcomer to settle and to integrate in Canada. We assist clients with their application/documentation. Provide information and referred client to appropriate agencies and community. We help our client with employment and education. The clients can receive help from our legal aid’s services. We provide interpretation and translation. Facilitate access by providing link between clients with specific settlement needs to available resources in the community, social and government services. Do case advocacy on behalf of clients with institutions, landlords etc. and assist clients in filing appeals and complaints. Conduct group and individual orientation and counselling on variety of settlement topics. Give orientation to community service providers on the needs of client groups and work with them to remove service barriers. Do outreach to assess community needs, promote programs. Participate in networking and coalition building with other agencies, communities and service providers. Recruit and train volunteers.

Canadian Crossroads International (CCI) is an international non-profit organisation whose aim is to build a constituency of global citizens committed to voluntarism, international development and social action. CCI does this by developing partnerships with countries from the South, organizing volunteer cooperative placements and internships, and by educating the public on development issues

Green Budget Coalition            

Mines Action Canada

Canadian Federation for Sexual Health The Canadian Federation for Sexual Health (formerly Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada) is a national network that takes leadership in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada and abroad through:

·         Public education and awareness

·         Support for the delivery of programs and services in Canada

·         Advocacy

·         International projects and liaison with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)

For 40 years, CFSH has worked nationally and internationally to ensure that people have access to universal, reliable information and services in order to make informed decisions related to their sexual and reproductive health. CFSH is a pro-choice organization and is a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

The Rights & Democracy Network is an initiative through which Rights & Democracy creates spaces in Canadian universities and colleges and encourages students to come together, propose and initiate activities that promote human rights and democracy. Throughout Canada, and beyond our borders, students have spontaneously responded to this idea and started taking up this challenge on their campuses, in their communities and in their world. Since the launch of the Network in September 2003, our efforts, combined with the financial support of Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC), have led to the creation of student associations known as Rights & Democracy Delegations in nearly 40 Canadian universities and colleges.

Le Réseau Droits et Démocratie est une initiative à travers laquelle Droits et Démocratie facilite, au sein des universités canadiennes, l’aménagement d'espaces de réflexion où les étudiants se rencontrent pour proposer et initier des activités de promotion des droits humains et de la démocratie. D’un bout à l'autre du Canada, et au-delà, les étudiants ont spontanément répondu à cette proposition et ont animé ces espaces : sur les lieux de leurs cités universitaires; au sein de leurs communautés; à l’échelle de leur monde. Depuis le lancement du Réseau en septembre 2003, nos efforts, avec l’appui financier du ministère des Affaires étrangères Canada (AEC), ont initié la création d’associations étudiantes – des « Délégations Droits et Démocratie » – au sein de près de 40 universités canadiennes.