Read more: Where do these demands come from?
Impose Sanctions and Embargoes
For Justice in Palestine and in consultation with Palestinians:
Action: Impose immediate sanctions on israeli trade, entities, officials and their assets alongside a full, two-way arms embargo; until
• a permanent ceasefire in the region and the release of all Palestinian hostages, safe and unharmed;
• israel provides reparations, and respects and obeys the right of return for Palestinians;
• israel ends the illegal occupation and dismantles all illegal settlements.
Why: A study by The Lancet predicts that the total death toll could exceed 186,000. As of October 2024, over 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in the on-going genocide, with nearly 70% of them being women and children. While Canada has called for a ceasefire and for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, israel has ignored these calls over and over again. Canada’s failure to implement consequences on israel, in the form of sanctions on israeli goods, military, and officials implies support for these violations and undermines its international obligations to prevent genocide and protect human rights, as stipulated by international law, including the UN Charter.
It can be done! In 2020, during the Nagorno-Karabakh war, Canada responded to protests and calls by the Armenian community by imposing an arms embargo on Azerbaijan to prevent Canadian military goods from being used in violations of international law. In 2018, Canadian political parties imposed sanctions on the genocidal state of Myanmar in response to protests and calls from the Rohingya community, leading to a reduction in violence and human rights abuses.
End Funding for Colonization
For Justice in Palestine and in consultation with Palestinians:
Action: Revoke the charitable status of organizations funding illegal settlements or the Israeli military, and prosecute Canadians—individuals or firms—who profit from land theft through owning, selling, or building property in Occupied Palestine.
Why: Over the past 4 years, over $1 billion in charitable donations have been illegally funneled to the israeli military and illegal settlements. These charitable donations, made by approximately 200 registered charities, are subsidized by Canadian taxpayers. The failure to revoke charitable status from those aiding or funding land theft empowers the expansion of illegal settlements. In March and December 2024, Canadian real estate firms held events in Canada to sell illegally occupied land in Palestine. Canadian citizens who profit from these illegal settlements are violating international agreements like the Fourth Geneva Convention. According to the UN advisory in September 2024, Canada should end all economic dealings which entrench israel unlawful presence in Occupied Palestine.
It can be done! In 2018 and in 2024, after activist groups like Just Peace Advocates compiled multiple submissions and complaints to the CRA, Canada revoked the charitable status of charities funding illegal israeli settlements and israeli military, showing the government can hold organizations accountable for funding human rights violations.
Prosecute ISRAELI War Crimes
For Justice in Palestine and in consultation with Palestinians:
Action: Launch investigations into israeli war crimes, designate israeli forces as a terrorist organization, prosecute foreign nationals and Canadians complicit in genocide through military roles or other actions, and screen foreign nationals and visitors to Canada for involvement in crimes against humanity in Occupied Palestine.
Why: israel’s military operations have led to significant war crimes and crimes against humanity, as documented by organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Office and Amnesty International. Canada has a legal obligation to address these issues under its Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act of 2000, which incorporates the principles of the Rome Statute into Canadian law. This Act mandates the investigation and prosecution of individuals involved in war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, regardless of where these crimes occur. In addition, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) Act of 2017 was enacted as part of Canada’s broader foreign policy efforts to hold individuals accountable for serious human rights violations and corruption abroad. It allows the Canadian government to freeze assets and impose travel bans on individuals involved in gross human rights abuses and corruption. By taking these actions, Canada would uphold its commitment to international justice and ensure that individuals within its jurisdiction are held accountable for participating in or facilitating such serious violations.
It can be done! In 1999, Canada became one of the first countries to prosecute individuals for crimes related to the Rwandan Genocide under its war crimes legislation. The creation of Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act of 2000 was due to increased pressure by Rwandan survivors and organizations who called for accountability and the prosecution of genocide perpetrators who took refuge in Canada.
Recognize and Rebuild Palestine
For Justice in Palestine and in consultation with Palestinians:
Action: Recognize Palestinian statehood and launch a comprehensive humanitarian aid and reconstruction program for Palestine, including direct funding for organizations providing assistance to communities impacted by genocide.
Why: Recognizing Palestinian statehood will reaffirm Canada’s commitments to fostering peace and stability by pressuring israel to end its colonization and genocide. However, this recognition should not pressure Palestinians into a two-state solution as doing so would normalize israel’s colonial project. Canada, as a UN member state, has a responsibility to act under international law to alleviate human suffering, restore infrastructure, and uphold the values of human dignity and life. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has identified urgent needs in Gaza due to catastrophic destruction, famine, spread of diseases, and additional humanitarian crises.
It can be done! In 2024, countries such as Norway and Spain, along with G7 members France and Italy, recognized Palestinian statehood. Canada demonstrated its capacity for supporting reconstruction efforts in 2023 by announcing funding to the International Transport Forum for an 18-month project aimed at assessing and rebuilding Ukraine’s transportation infrastructure, highlighting the government’s commitment to aiding war-torn states.
Restore Indigenous Sovereignty
For Indigenous Justice and in consultation with Indigenous Peoples:
Action: Commit to structural and policy changes that enforce Canada’s obligations as a treaty partner, support land restitution, and stop harmful resource extraction on unceded territories without free, prior, and informed consent.
Why: When the government fails to return land or enforce treaty rights, it continues a legacy of dispossession and harm. For example, the ongoing development of the Site C dam on unceded Indigenous lands disregards the rights of the Dane-zaa people, threatening their way of life. Similarly, the destruction of forests in Wet’suwet’en territory for building pipelines without consent is another violation of Indigenous sovereignty. These actions result in forced displacement, environmental destruction, and cultural erasure—forms of genocide that deepen Indigenous suffering.
It can be done! In 2014, for the first time in Canadian history, and after decades of struggle, protest, and legal effort by Indigenous Peoples, the Supreme Court of Canada declared the Tŝilhqot’in Nation aboriginal title to a small portion of the territory within the area of Xeni Gwet’in (or Nemiah Valley). The ruling also found that British Columbia breached its duty to consult with the Tŝilhqot’in in its planning and forestry authorizations. The Tŝilhqot’in Decision allows for full ownership, benefit and control of the land by the Tŝilhqot’in people, and was only possible because of their extraordinary and long-standing struggle to protect their land from harmful resource extraction.
Fulfill Truth & Reconciliation Calls
For Indigenous Justice and in consultation with Indigenous Peoples:
Action: Fully implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls To Action (CTAs), with a particular focus on Calls 1–42, which address healthcare, justice, child welfare, education, language, and culture.
Why: Indigenous Peoples continue to face systemic discrimination and disadvantages in Canada. For example, Indigenous children are 10 times more likely to be removed from their homes by child welfare services than non-Indigenous children. Implementing the CTAs would help address these disparities, advance reconciliation, and begin repairing the harms caused by Canada’s colonial past.
It can be done! The Canadian government has made progress on several of the CTAs showing it can implement significant aspects related to Reconciliation; however, their slow progress is concerning. No CTA has been completed without the active involvement of Indigenous advocates and NGOs, indicating a dependance on community-driven efforts rather than government initiative. These delays raise urgent questions about the political will to address the needs of Indigenous communities and block meaningful reconciliation.
Provide Justice for MMIWG2S
For Indigenous Justice and in consultation with Indigenous Peoples:
Action: Fully implement the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S), ensuring systemic changes in law enforcement and government policies.
Why: The fight for justice for MMIWG2S has been long and painful, marked by decades of advocacy and persistent inaction from government and law enforcement. Indigenous women face violence at rates 12 times higher than non-Indigenous women, and this violence is recognized as a form of genocide. Despite the inquiry’s findings, many families feel there has been little meaningful change. The 231 Calls for Justice are a vital roadmap to addressing this crisis and ensuring systemic change in policing and governmental policies that have failed to protect MMIWG2S and their communities.
It can be done! The ongoing push for justice was exemplified by the recent battle to fund the search for two murdered Indigenous women at the Prairie Green landfill. Indigenous communities and advocacy groups lobbied tirelessly for $20 million in funding from the Canadian government, announced in November 2024. This funding marks progress but also reflects years of resistance and activism demanding accountability and meaningful action.
Defund and Reform Policing
For Indigenous Justice and in consultation with Indigenous Peoples:
Action: Defund discriminatory law enforcement agencies and reinvest in community-led and culturally grounded safety and justice initiatives to address systemic racism and colonial violence.
Why: The Canadian government spends billions on law enforcement, yet Indigenous communities continue to experience higher levels of police violence. Indigenous people are vastly overrepresented in police violence incidents, and many Indigenous people killed by police were subjected to genocidal violence like residential schools, foster care, and incarceration. Defunding colonial, discriminatory police forces and reinvesting in community-led safety will help dismantle systemic racism and create more equitable justice systems for Indigenous peoples.
It can be done! In 2021, the Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) passed a resolution to develop a First Nations policing legislative framework, in partnership with the Canadian government. However, in 2024, the Auditor General reported the government’s failure to build trust with Indigenous communities and found the programs underperforming. The AFN’s continued advocacy will drive Public Safety Canada and the RCMP to create an improved national strategy in partnership with First Nations ad Inuit communities.