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Human rights stories are all around us. We explore contemporary and historic human rights stories, from Canada and around the world.

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Rohingya women call for justice

By Paula Kelly

Explore Story
A group of Rohingya women and men carry young children and belongings as they walk in a line over an earthen dike over a stretch of water.

The Winnipeg General Strike

By Travis Tomchuk

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A large crowd gathered on a street

The symbol of Pride

By Karine Duhamel

Explore Story
Several hands reaching toward a sunlit sky, with many waving rainbow flags.

Jody Williams and the campaign to ban landmines

By Julia Peristerakis

Explore Story
A woman sitting on a chair with hands clasped looks thoughtfully ahead, as if answering a question.

The Sharpeville Massacre

By Matthew McRae

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People stand in front of a row of coffins.

Five women all Canadians should know

By Matthew McRae

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Six red dresses are suspended in air on hangers in front of a backdrop. The backdrop features an image of a birch wood forest with more red dresses hanging in it.

Travis Price’s act of kindness

By Julia Peristerakis

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Six teenagers and a middle-aged woman stand with their arms around each other and are smiling for the camera. They are all wearing pink shirts.

Canadian civil rights trailblazers

By Jason Permanand

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A black and white photo of a movie theatre audience. The picture is taken from the front of the theatre looking towards the back, so the faces of the audience can be seen. Potted palm trees line the walls on each side.

Peace, friendship and respect

By Karine Duhamel

Explore Story
An image being projected onto a curved wall that is about nine feet tall. It is made up of many small squares and has the appearance of Indigenous bead work or a mosaic. The image is mainly made up of white squares, but it also features two thick blue horizontal lines that run parallel to each other.

Fighting for a vision of a free and democratic Russia

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Des roses rouges et blanches fanées dans un vase. En arrière-plan, on voit la cathédrale Saint-Basile sur la place Rouge, à Moscou, avec ses multiples coupoles et dômes, qui rappellent un feu de camp montant vers le ciel.

Childhood denied

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A group of boys wearing pyjamas kneels on single beds with heads bowed and hands clasped as if in prayer. A woman stands in the room with her hands clasped in a similar manner.

The story of slavery in Canadian history

By Matthew McRae

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Rusted iron manacles hang on hooks on a plain white wall.

The story of Nelson Mandela

By Matthew McRae

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Nelson Mandela, an older black man with graying hair, forms a raised fist with his right hand and holds it above his head. With his left, he is holding hands with Winnie Mandela, a black woman with dark hair. She is smiling and has formed a raised fist with her left hand, mirroring Nelson Mandela’s raised fist. A large crowd is gathered behind them.

Bringing the potlatch home

By Matthew McRae

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A black and white image of an elderly woman with white hair holding a mask that is shaped and painted to represent a bird’s head. It features a long beak with an open mouth and feathers attached to the top of the head. The woman is looking directly at the mask she is holding.

Making Mandela: Struggle for Freedom

By Matthew McRae

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A man and a woman sit in chairs facing each other. There is a microphone on a stand positioned between them. There are also large lights on both sides of the woman’s chair, which are pointed towards the man.

What would you risk to share evidence of injustice?

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" "

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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A person holds a large piece of paper covered with text and a large title reading "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

One woman’s resistance

Explore Story
A head-and-shoulder portrait of Viola Desmond framed by a vertical purple rectangle. Viola is wearing a white top.

Powered by love: Grandmothers fighting HIV/AIDS

By Matthew McRae

Explore Story
A head-and-shoulders portrait of Gogo Gladys Tyophol. She is wearing glasses and a blue patterned kerchief wrapped around her head. Her shirt says GAPA and a red AIDS ribbon is attached to her sweater.

Planting a seed: Creating a community garden at the Museum

By Matthew McRae

Explore Story
Seven men and women work in a garden on a sunny day. The garden is circular and has very few plants in it. Around the garden are tall grass, trees, a walking path and a sidewalk. In the background, part of the Museum’s stone structure can be seen.

Rohingya women call for justice

By Paula Kelly

Explore Story
A group of Rohingya women and men carry young children and belongings as they walk in a line over an earthen dike over a stretch of water.

The Winnipeg General Strike

By Travis Tomchuk

Explore Story
A large crowd gathered on a street

The symbol of Pride

By Karine Duhamel

Explore Story
Several hands reaching toward a sunlit sky, with many waving rainbow flags.

Jody Williams and the campaign to ban landmines

By Julia Peristerakis

Explore Story
A woman sitting on a chair with hands clasped looks thoughtfully ahead, as if answering a question.

The Sharpeville Massacre

By Matthew McRae

Explore Story
People stand in front of a row of coffins.

Five women all Canadians should know

By Matthew McRae

The year 2016 marks a century since women in Canada first got the right to vote and so it seems like a fine time to celebrate the achievements of Canadian women.

Explore Story
Six red dresses are suspended in air on hangers in front of a backdrop. The backdrop features an image of a birch wood forest with more red dresses hanging in it.

Travis Price’s act of kindness

By Julia Peristerakis

Explore Story
Six teenagers and a middle-aged woman stand with their arms around each other and are smiling for the camera. They are all wearing pink shirts.

Canadian civil rights trailblazers

By Jason Permanand

Explore Story
A black and white photo of a movie theatre audience. The picture is taken from the front of the theatre looking towards the back, so the faces of the audience can be seen. Potted palm trees line the walls on each side.

Peace, friendship and respect

By Karine Duhamel

Explore Story
An image being projected onto a curved wall that is about nine feet tall. It is made up of many small squares and has the appearance of Indigenous bead work or a mosaic. The image is mainly made up of white squares, but it also features two thick blue horizontal lines that run parallel to each other.

Fighting for a vision of a free and democratic Russia

Explore Story
Des roses rouges et blanches fanées dans un vase. En arrière-plan, on voit la cathédrale Saint-Basile sur la place Rouge, à Moscou, avec ses multiples coupoles et dômes, qui rappellent un feu de camp montant vers le ciel.

Childhood denied

A story about Indian residential schools and their legacy

Explore Story
A group of boys wearing pyjamas kneels on single beds with heads bowed and hands clasped as if in prayer. A woman stands in the room with her hands clasped in a similar manner.

The story of slavery in Canadian history

By Matthew McRae

Explore Story
Rusted iron manacles hang on hooks on a plain white wall.

The story of Nelson Mandela

By Matthew McRae

Explore Story
Nelson Mandela, an older black man with graying hair, forms a raised fist with his right hand and holds it above his head. With his left, he is holding hands with Winnie Mandela, a black woman with dark hair. She is smiling and has formed a raised fist with her left hand, mirroring Nelson Mandela’s raised fist. A large crowd is gathered behind them.

Bringing the potlatch home

By Matthew McRae

Explore Story
A black and white image of an elderly woman with white hair holding a mask that is shaped and painted to represent a bird’s head. It features a long beak with an open mouth and feathers attached to the top of the head. The woman is looking directly at the mask she is holding.

Making Mandela: Struggle for Freedom

By Matthew McRae

Explore Story
A man and a woman sit in chairs facing each other. There is a microphone on a stand positioned between them. There are also large lights on both sides of the woman’s chair, which are pointed towards the man.

What would you risk to share evidence of injustice?

What does it mean to stand up for human rights? Read the story of a medic who risked his own safety to document the evidence of atrocity.

Explore Story
" "

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

This world‐famous declaration is celebrated each year on International Human Rights Day.

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A person holds a large piece of paper covered with text and a large title reading "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

One woman’s resistance

Viola Desmond helped inspire Canada’s civil rights movement by refusing to give up her seat in a movie theatre. Now, she is on the $10 bill.

Explore Story
A head-and-shoulder portrait of Viola Desmond framed by a vertical purple rectangle. Viola is wearing a white top.

Powered by love: Grandmothers fighting HIV/AIDS

By Matthew McRae

It took Gogo Gladys Tyophol many years to come to terms with the death of her only son.

Explore Story
A head-and-shoulders portrait of Gogo Gladys Tyophol. She is wearing glasses and a blue patterned kerchief wrapped around her head. Her shirt says GAPA and a red AIDS ribbon is attached to her sweater.

Planting a seed: Creating a community garden at the Museum

By Matthew McRae

My partner and I have a small garden just outside the front door of our home. I will admit that it’s not much to look at.

Explore Story
Seven men and women work in a garden on a sunny day. The garden is circular and has very few plants in it. Around the garden are tall grass, trees, a walking path and a sidewalk. In the background, part of the Museum’s stone structure can be seen.

What does being Canadian mean to you?

What do you value about being Canadian? How has Canada shaped you? Watch stories about what Canada means to the people who live here, or record a video to share your own!

Share Your Story
Four mobile phones with screenshots of people sharing their stories.