Celebrating Nova Scotia Human Rights Week

November 29, 2024

Nova Scotians are encouraged to join in celebrations marking Nova Scotia Human Rights Week from December 3 to 10.

Last year, the Human Rights Commission and partners commemorated the first Nova Scotia Human Rights Week in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This year’s celebrations include more partners, more events and more ways to recognize the foundational role human rights play in protecting each person’s inherent dignity.

“Human Rights Week is a time to celebrate the power of inclusion, engage across communities and be inspired by the passion and perseverance of our province’s many human rights champions,” said Joseph Fraser, Director and CEO of the commission. “Engaging with systemic challenges, difficult topics and the persistent legacies of colonialism and other forms of oppression is challenging work that showcases the potential each of us holds to influence positive change.”

Event highlights include:

• a free online screening of the film Sugarcane, an award-winning documentary that explores the legacy of Canada’s residential school system and the intergenerational trauma and resilience of Indigenous people, in partnership with the Atlantic International Film Festival
• virtual panels and talks on hate crimes, housing, treaty rights, gender-based violence and the history of disability
• the 2024 Nova Scotia Human Rights Awards ceremony, in-person and livestreamed from the Halifax Central Library.

A full schedule of events can be found at https://humanrights.novascotia.ca/nshrw2024

Nova Scotia Human Rights Week includes the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (Tuesday, December 3), the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Friday, December 6) and International Human Rights Day (Tuesday, December 10).

Additional Resources

United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission: https://humanrights.novascotia.ca/

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