To Become Truly Universal and Sustainable,Human Rights Need a Major Reset in Canada and Globally

Author: Slava Balan

Abstract

Amidst the war in Ukraine, violent conflicts in other parts of the world and serious human rights issues in many Western countries, including Canada, a critical question begs discussion: is the “universality” of human rights still relevant in the modern world and can the idea of human rights universality be reinvigorated? This article discusses the varying understandings of human rights universality and the importance of its substantive understanding, meaning the same “core content” of human rights for everyone, everywhere in the world. This article presents positive examples from a range of countries concerning the incorporation of human rights universality into the national legal systems and discusses Canada’s approach to treating human rights universality. The article argues that, to genuinely embrace the universality of human rights, Canada needs to rethink its own human rights system and adopt an approach taken by many European countries. Scotland is an excellent example of such an approach that Canada should be following— developing a deep and comprehensive statutory human rights framework boldly and squarely based on international human rights standards. The article concludes with further proposals for the consolidation and strengthening of the international human rights system in an effort to reinvigorate the universal human rights framework.

Resume

Slava Balan is an international human rights lawyer, currently completing his PhD in Law at the University of Ottawa and serving as the Executive Director of the International Commission of Jurists – Canada. For over 20 years, Slava worked on human rights issues with the UN and other international organizations in Europe, Asia and Northern America. Slava holds an LL.M. degree from McGill University (2015) and another LL.M. degree from the Central European University (2002).

Recommended Citation

Slava Balan, “To Become Truly Universal and Sustainable, Human Rights Need a Major Reset in Canada and Globally” (2025) 12:2 Can J Hum Rts 197, online: <https://cjhr.ca/download/3209/?tmstv=1754412526&v=3210>.