Human Rights Watch

Indigenous people need control of their own water authorities, says SCO grand chief

Indigenous people need control of their own water authorities, says SCO grand chief

Indigenous leaders in Manitoba are calling on the federal government to do more to respect the basic human rights of Indigenous people living in Canada after the group Human Rights Watch released their 2022 report on issues affecting human rights and Indigenous people. Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization headquartered in New York City that conducts research and advocacy on human rights.

Report: Canada still failing to address Indigenous rights

Report: Canada still failing to address Indigenous rights

Human Rights Watch has again given Canada's treatment of Indigenous people a failing grade. As Heather Yourex-West explains, the organization is highlighting how the protection of Indigenous women and girls is falling short, and the lack of access to clean drinking water for First Nations.

Rights group releases scathing report on Canada's violations of Indigenous rights

Rights group releases scathing report on Canada's violations of Indigenous rights

A prominent human-rights group says Canada is failing to address long-standing abuses, delivering a rebuke of what it calls the federal government’s inadequate climate policy and violations of the rights of Indigenous people and immigration detainees. Human Rights Watch says more than two dozen First Nations remain under long-term drinking water advisories, despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to bring that number down to zero.

Human Rights Watch report cites Canadian shortcomings on Indigenous, climate issues

Human Rights Watch report cites Canadian shortcomings on Indigenous, climate issues

It says inadequate access to clean drinking water continues to pose a major health threat which continues to impede the advancement of Indigenous rights in Canada, "one of the world's most water-rich countries." The report also says Canada is a top G7 greenhouse gas emitter, and says it is the world's top financier of fossil fuel producers. "Canada is contributing to the climate crisis taking a growing toll on human rights around the globe," the report says.

61 Indigenous Communities in Canada Still Need to Boil Water for Safety

61 Indigenous Communities in Canada Still Need to Boil Water for Safety

Canada is one of the wealthiest and most water-rich countries in the world. Yet many of its First Nations communities continue to lack safe drinking water — a basic human right. As of February, 61 Indigenous reserves were under long-term drinking water advisories, half of which remain unresolved after more than a decade. These water advisories warn people to either boil water before use, not to consume it, or avoid it altogether because of toxicity levels.

Canada violates human right to safe water, says report by international watchdog

Canada violates human right to safe water, says report by international watchdog

Discrimination against First Nations people is a "legal fact" in Canada when it comes to safe drinking water, says a new report by Human Rights Watch.

The international, independent human rights organization released its report in Toronto on Tuesday calling for "urgent steps" by the federal and provincial government to resolve more than 100 boil-water advisories in First Nations across Canada.