Amnesty International calls on party leaders and candidates in the 2025 Canadian federal election to place human rights at the heart of their campaigns to lead Canada as it responds to U.S. President Trump’s tariff war and annexation threats.
In response to Sunday’s federal election call, Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking and Francophone sections urged candidates to seize this extraordinary moment in the country’s history to elevate Canada as a foremost global leader defending human rights and the rule of law.
“Human rights are not a partisan issue, nor a political preference. They are the cornerstone of a just and safe society,” said Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking section, on Monday. “In this crucial election, Canada faces an existential threat and a world at a historical crossroads. Canada’s aspiring leaders must step up and boldly protect human rights at home and abroad. This is the only path to a safer future for all, where no one is left behind.”
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“In our current moment of global upheaval, Canadian politicians must go further than just respecting human rights,” said France-Isabelle Langlois, Executive Director of Amnistie internationale Canada francophone. “Facing critical choices about its future, Canada can, and must, use its position on the global stage to champion an international system that protects human rights, upholds the rule of law, and recognizes the inherent dignity and equality of every human being.”
“As authoritarianism, anti-migrant rhetoric, and attacks on gender and racial equality gain ground worldwide, Canada must remain a global leader in defending human rights,” said Langlois. “The next government must resist any pressure — economic or political — to retreat from Canada’s legacy of standing up for international human rights. That means respecting people’s right to seek asylum, strengthening reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and doubling down on our commitments to combat climate change and systemic discrimination.
“It also means speaking out against human rights violations wherever they happen, including those committed by our closest allies.”
Voters in Canada have a crucial role to play in ensuring that human rights remain front and centre during the federal election campaign. To help them keep their candidates accountable, Amnesty International Canada is preparing advocacy tools that will empower supporters to make their voices heard.
“Over the last two months, people from coast to coast have raised a strong, united voice against Trump’s tariff war and outrageous taunts about making Canada a 51st state,” said Nivyabandi. “We must seize this moment to send a powerful message to politicians: that respecting human rights is a strong, distinctively Canadian response to the threats we face.”
