Vancouver friends, come join us, May 14th at SFU Harbour Centre. Very much looking forward to joining the Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies' Amyn Sajoo for their Belonging and Citizenship Conversation Series. Registration details: events.sfu.ca/event/48346-...

West Coast friends, I'm speaking at the Salt Spring Forum, May 13th. "... the promise of human rights can feel distant and sometimes impossible. But for Alex Neve, that promise is not an outdated ideal; it is a call to action that still matters deeply, and urgently."

Heartbreaking. #Rohingya #refugees

In case we needed reminding. Change is possible. Change is in the people's hands. Thank you #Hungary.

A grim anniversary in #Sudan.

Ten years since she was murdered, there must at long last be justice for Berta Cáceres.

Trapped in a human rights paradox. Venezuelan refugees, not welcome on two fronts.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." Whether this is raving lunacy, deliberate hyperbole, depraved strategy or unabashed criminality, this is beyond war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is, essentially, a threat to commit genocide. 1/3

We must be the change. We cannot let this be. Not a moment longer.

“Instead of looking for our disappeared, they’re disappearing them.”

From Cesar Jaramillo: "...those well aware of the erosion of int'l norms should be struck by the speed with which civilian protections are sliding. And there is no shortage of responsibility: the perpetrators, the enablers, the silent observers & those who feign concern but ultimately do little..."

One of the first public talks I gave had me up immediately after Stephen Lewis’ words had taken flight and taken all of our hearts and minds soaring out of that hall and around the world. Needless to say it was a wee bit daunting. 1/3

At the core of international law constraining the death penalty is that it should never be used discriminatorily. This new law could not be more discriminatory if it tried. Grounded in the racist belief that Palestinian lives matter less.

The colossal injustice of the slave trade is undeniable and the profound need and right for there to be substantial, global reparations can no longer be dodged, ignored & denied.

As if the rights-stripping and refugee-endangering new border legislation just passed by Parliament wasn’t disheartening & troubling enough, it will reach back in time and cancel nearly 30,000 pending & lawful refugee claims. #CharterChallenge

Yesterday, on the Hill, a press conference with @mehmettohti.bsky.social, Sameer Zuberi MP & Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe MP, marking a somber anniversary. #HuseyinCelil 1/3

This shames us all. And it is the just the very tip of a disgraceful iceberg of racism and deceit. We need full disclosure, accountability, genuine apologies & substantial redress.

A critical moment for human rights accountability internationally is when a country's record of compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is reviewed by the independent experts on the UN Human Rights Committee. It comes around about once per decade. 1/10

Sending good wishes, gratitude & respect to the applicants, parties and intervenors in the Bill 21 appeal at the SCC this week. An historic opportunity for the Court to clarify, limit and constrain use of the Charter's notorious notwithstanding clause. 1/3

“Civilians, particularly migrant workers, across Gulf states are being threatened, killed, and injured by Iranian drones and missiles. Rather than pretending to apologize, Iran’s authorities should immediately take all possible measures to protect civilians across the Gulf.”

Against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, there is escalation on so many fronts. This from UN human rights experts about spiraling human rights violations in the West Bank.

This is profoundly misguided & dangerous thinking for all states - all of them - facing aggression. Globe Editorial says bc Iran's regime is so brutal & violated many international laws itself, the international law on the use of force should be scrapped: www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...

Meanwhile. While international law is shredded in the Middle East. The world continues to pay no attention to #Sudan.

What a disgraceful abdication of the responsibility - and opportunity - to advance reconciliation on the part of both the Law Society and the Alberta government.

Today, I have joined over 50 recipients of the Order of Canada in calling on the Canadian government to urgently convene a meeting of like-minded states in advance of a crucial upcoming review conference of the vital Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. 1/2

Alex is spot on, as usual. When people commit murder, despite its prohibition in the Criminal Code, should we just throw out the Code and join in the fun? The rule of law is under threat by the likes of both Donald Trump and the Iranian regime. Let’s find a way to bring respect for it back.

“Let us not run away from international law because of its obvious imperfections. Let us run towards it, to lift it up, finally, as humanity’s best chance.”

Hear, hear. There are signs in our window at home too. Let’s not take them out of the window. Let’s live up to them! #CanadaStrong #ViveLeCanada

International law is not broken; our commitment to and defence of it is @alexneve.bsky.social www.alexneve.ca/blog/interna...

“Let us not run away from international law because of its obvious imperfections. Let us run towards it, to lift it up, finally, as humanity’s best chance.” 💗

"What is so glaringly missing from this editorial is a clarion call for international law to be championed & enforced, in its entirety and always." @alexneve.bsky.social on the Globe's editorial 👇 International law is not broken; our commitment to & defence of it is www.alexneve.ca/blog/interna...

“Let us not run away from international law because of its obvious imperfections. Let us run towards it, to lift it up, finally, as humanity’s best chance” Former head of Amnesty International, @alexneve.bsky.social www.alexneve.ca/blog/interna...

🧵 “An amnesty law offers an opportunity to provide justice and alleviate the suffering of the many people who have been unlawfully detained for political reasons in #Venezuela,” said @alexneve.bsky.social #HRC61 www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

A recent Globe and Mail editorial argues that since international law has failed vis-a-vis Iran, it is justifiable to toss it out the window and go to war. Not how I see it...

Not only is it illegal, destructive, deadly & destabilizing, it is costing $1 billion per day. Imagine the peace, justice, equality & genuine security that could be forged with just one day’s worth of war.

Three disturbing, hateful acts of antisemiitic violence targeting Toronto synagogues this week. There must be investigations and justice. Faith communities and places of worship must be safe, protected and respected.

Gratitude & respect to Bijou Cibuabua Kanyinda for pursuing justice. This is a tremendous recognition, validation & vindication of women’s rights, equality rights & refugee rights.

Excellent op-ed by @alexneve.bsky.social re: graduate students in Gaza waiting up to two years for study visas. "A delay of weeks is processing. A delay of months is a backlog. But a delay of a year, without explanation or end, is a de facto rejection." www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

My op-ed in today's @theglobeandmail.com, decrying the approach (or rather, the lack thereof) that the Canadian government has taken with respect to processing visa applications for highly qualified Palestinian graduate students who have been admitted to university programs across the country. 1/3

🧵⬇️ Cross-Canada early morning tour with @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social, hitting 12 stations from Labrador to Vancouver & points in between. The topic: the legality of the US/Israeli attacks against Iran. Here's CBC Vancouver interview on the Early Edition: lnkd.in/e3Q74Yh4. 1/4 Short answer...

Thoughtful & personal from dear friend & colleague @amandaghahremani.com: "Iranians deserve genuine change. Prioritizing perceived short-term gains for unimaginable long-term losses, such as the abandonment of international law, is a disservice to generations of Iranians to come."

Thank you for the conversation, @49thshelf.bsky.social.

We can be fierce champions of democracy & human rights in Iran while, at the same time, firmly rejecting unilateral & unlawful military action by one state against another. Both are, after all, grounded in the same values & the same vision for humanity. Both take us in the same direction.

Sending heaps of love and compassion to the families, the injured and all of the people of Tumbler Ridge. May you draw comfort from every corner of this country, for we are all holding you close.

What gives, Board of Peace?

Des arguments convaincants de la part de @bernardduhaime.bsky.social et Noémie Boivin pour que Canada s'engage pleinement dans le système interaméricain des droits de la personne. Il est grand temps de reconnaître que nous faisons partie de cet hémisphère!

The @uninvhrc.bsky.social's FFM on #Venezuela is watching the Amnesty Law closely. Here is our call for greater transparency & inclusivity, reiterating urgent need to release all political prisoners. Venezuela's repressive laws need to be dismantled & a comprehensive rights-based agenda instituted.

Fredericton friends. And NB friends more widely, in case you happen to be in town. So honoured and very much looking forward to delivering this year's Lodhi Lecture in Human Rights at the Atlantic Human Rights Centre at @stthomasu.bsky.social.

This calls for a reaction way beyond muted "disappointment" and appeals for a "humanitarian" release, Minister @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social. Canada should be outraged & incensed (as Canadians are), and should demand & insist that #JimmyLai be immediately & unconditionally released.