Online Reference Tools: Social Justice

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Human Rights / Democracy / Good Governance

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
An overview of and the complete Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Canadian Human Rights Act
From the Department of Justice Canada website. Download full act.
Canadian Human Rights Commission
The Commission's business is to make the Canadian Human Rights Act work for the benefit of all Canadians.
Ontario Human Rights Commission
Established in 1961 to administer the Code. The Commission is accountable to the Legislature, includes a copy of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Human Rights / Democracy / Good Governance: Canadian NGOs

Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Information about CCLA's efforts to protect Canadians' rights and freedoms.
Canadian Council for Refugees
A non-profit umbrella organization committed to the rights and protection of refugees in Canada and to their settlement in Canada.
Canadian International Development Agency
Responsible for administering most of the Official Development Assistance Program. (ODA)
Centre for Social Justice
An advocacy organization that works with issues such as narrowing the gap between rich and poor, challenging the corporate domination of Canadian politics, and pressing for policy changes that promote economic and social justice.
Democracy Watch
An independent, non-profit, non-partisan Canadian citizen advocacy organization that works in pushing Canadian governments and businesses to empower Canadians in their roles as voters, citizens, taxpayers, consumers and shareholders.

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Human Rights / Democracy / Good Governance: Gateways

Charity Village
A Canadian site for the non-profit sector – more than 2,000 pages of news, Information and resources for executives, staffers, donors, and volunteers.
Development Gateway
An interactive site for information on sustainable development and poverty reduction.
United Nations System Pathfinder
Search global studies and reports, handbooks and guides, bibliographies and indices, international statistical publications, compilations of treaties, resolutions and documents as well as annual reports of UN bodies and specialized agencies.

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Human Rights / Democracy / Good Governance: International NGOs

Amnesty International
Contains information about current campaigns, news updates, and links to other human rights' sites
Human Rights First
Works to protect and promote fundamental human rights.
Human Rights Watch
Dedicated to protecting human rights around the world.

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Human Rights / Democracy / Good Governance: International Organizations

Council of Europe
It covers all major issues facing European society other than defence. Its work includes: human rights, media, legal co-operation, social and economic questions, health, education, culture, heritage, sport, youth, local democracy, the environment and regional planning.
Human Development Reports
UNDP is the United Nations' principal provider of development advice, advocacy and grant support. Its core programmes focus on the countries that are home to 90 percent of the world's extremely poor people.
OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
Group of 30 countries working on various themes ranging from trade and economic policy to biotechnology and education.
UNESCO
Search many full text documents, which promote collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication.
UNFPA
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, extends assistance to developing countries, countries with economies in transition to help them address reproductive health and population issues, and raises awareness of these issues.
UNICEF
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
United Nations
The six principal organs of the United Nations, are the: General Assembly,  Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice and Secretariat.
WHO World Health Organization
The objective of WHO is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health.
World Bank
To help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity, and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors.
 
 

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Hunger / Poverty / Homelessness / Disaster Relief

CARE Canada
Care Canada is a non-governmental, non-sectarian, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping the poor in developing regions and providing relief to victims of natural disasters and violent conflicts.
Hunger Project
A strategic organization committed to the sustainable end of chronic hunger.
Ontario and Toronto Tenants (Canada)
Provides practical information on tenants' rights and rental housing issues.
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
Local group working for the poor, the homeless, immigrants, and against workfare to name a few issues.
Oxfam-Canada
Outspoken advocate for sustainable development, social justice and equality.
Toronto Disaster Relief Committee
The TDRC strives to make all levels of Canadian government recognize that homelessness is a national disaster.
U.S Agency for International Development (USAID)
An independent US government agency that conducts foreign assistance and humanitarian aid to advance the political and economic interests of the U.S.
USC Canada
USC Canada builds partnerships to find long term solutions to overcoming poverty.
 
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Women & Gender Issues

Canadian Federation of University Women
Founded in 1919, it is a voluntary, nonpartisan, non-profit, self-funded bilingual organization of 10,000 women university graduates. Members work to raise the social, economic, and legal status of women, as well as to improve education, the environment, peace, justice and human rights.
Ontario Women's Justice Network
They work to promote an understanding of the law with respect to the issue of violence against women and children. They provide accessible legal information to women and their supporters in a manner that reflects the experiences and realities of women.
UNIFEM
It is the women's fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster women's empowerment and gender equality.

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