Human Rights Action Group convened the Human Rights Coalition (HRC), a coalition of diaspora community organizations– including Falun Gong Human Rights Group, Canada-Hong Kong Link, Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, Democratic Spaces, Tamil Rights Group, Hidmonna-Eritrean Canadian Human Rights Group of Manitoba, Security and Justice for Tigrayans Canada, and the Alliance of Genocide Victim Communities– to participate in the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions (“the Commission”).
The HRC took part in Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Commission’s inquiry between March 27 and April 12, 2024 and September 16 and October 16, 2024, respectively. The Commission published its final report on January 28, 2025.
On February 24, 2025, the HRC released a statement in response to the Commission’s Final Report. Agreeing with the Commission’s recommendation that the government “develop a comprehensive strategy to address transnational repression”, the HRC statement urged the Canadian Government to make seven definitive commitments to this effect. Namely, the HRC recommended that the Government–
- Consistently use existing immigration laws to support and protect victims of transnational repression, including victims from the Uyghur, Tibetan, Hongkonger, Falun Gong, Tigrayan, Eritrean, Cuban, and Tamil communities.
- Consistently use sanctions laws to support and protect victims of transnational repression.
- Ensure that reporting mechanisms are accessible to the Uyghur, Tibetan, Hongkonger, Falun Gong, Tigrayan, Eritrean, Cuban, and Tamil communities.
- Avoid cooperating with authoritarian regimes on criminal matters.
- Ensure that Bill C-70 is implemented prior to the 2025 federal election and prioritize the securing of nomination and leadership contests.
- Provide financial, physical, and psychological support to transnational repression victims.
- Account for collaborations between authoritarian regimes, and use of proxy organizations, in efforts to combat foreign interference and transnational repression.
The HRC’s full statement elaborating on these recommendations can be viewed in full here.
