UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor: “Canadian extractive mining companies are putting defenders at risk all over the world”
On April 11, Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, posted on social media: “At #HRC58 [the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council] I welcomed #Canada’s support for human rights defenders abroad. But I had to say it: Canadian extractive mining companies are putting defenders at risk all over the world. We need binding due diligence obligations, a stronger @CORE_Ombuds [Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise/CORE], and real accountability.”
Visa program
The visa program Lawlor notes in the video likely refers to the Canada Program – Canada Global Refugee Stream for Human Rights Defenders.
A July 2023 media release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada notes: “Human rights defenders (HRDs) are active in every part of the world and play an essential role in promoting and protecting human rights internationally. In many countries, HRDs are increasingly at risk of violence… [As a result, the Government of Canada has] announced the expansion of the global human rights defenders stream, doubling the number of resettlement spaces from 250 to 500 for HRDs and their family members. The initiative, propelled by the belief that no one should face persecution for championing justice, reflects Canada’s unwavering commitment to providing a sanctuary for those who risk their lives in the pursuit of fundamental freedoms.”
PBI-Canada continues to call on the Government of Canada to implement a Temporary Relocation Programme that would allow human rights defenders at imminent threat a temporary refuge for a period of 3-6 months. We have highlighted that Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands have this program in place.
The need to strengthen the CORE
In November 2024, Lawlor also called for a “significant strengthening of the CORE.”
At that time, Lawlor commented: “I have long-standing concerns as to the adequacy of the CORE, in its current form, to provide any adequate form of redress for human rights defenders and the communities they represent when their rights have been violated or been put at risk by Canadian companies operating abroad. This has been reflected in conversations I have had with human rights defenders since taking up my mandate, who, where aware of the CORE, have repeatedly told me they have no confidence in its effectiveness.”
Specifically, Lawlor called on the Government of Canada to: “Provide the CORE with legally enforceable powers to compel evidence and testimony from companies, in line with international standards and best practice on ombudspersons’ offices, to enable effective investigations of all cases and overcome the barriers presented when companies refuse to meaningfully engage with the CORE.”
Canadian embassies and Voices at Risk guidelines
In July 2024, Lawlor also told The Globe and Mail: “[Canada] parades itself on the world stage as being the good guys … But when it comes to the conduct of companies in the context of business and human rights, the UN guiding principles and the obligations of Canadian embassies themselves abroad, they’re really found wanting.”
That article further noted: “[Lawlor] also singled out Canadian embassies, saying many have failed to respond adequately to those who raise serious concerns about the impacts of mining and oil activities abroad. Canada introduced ‘Voices at Risk’ guidelines in 2019, aimed at supporting human-rights defenders and giving advice to Canadian diplomats working overseas, but she says it hasn’t been properly implemented.”
Indigenous land defenders on territories in Canada
In February 2025, Lawlor also posted: “On 6 March I’ll present my latest report to the @humanrightscouncil, on human rights defenders in isolated, remote & rural contexts. In the lead up, I am sharing stories illustrating how the risks & challenges these defenders face are often linked to their location.”
The drawings of the defenders featured in the image shared by Lawlor are Indigenous land defenders Sleydo’ (Wet’suwet’en, Gidimt’en Clan), Kolin Sutherland-Wilson (Gitxsan) and Freda Huson (Wet’suwet’en, Unist’ot’en Clan).
PBI-Canada
Peace Brigades International-Canada continues to document violations by Canadian companies within Canada as well as in the countries where PBI physically accompanies land and environmental defenders, including Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico where 119 defenders were killed in 2023.
Our initial research, utilizing the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) database, found that 21 Canadian companies have been implicated in 88 attacks against human rights defenders over the past nine years.
We are additionally concerned that Lawlor’s office has registered 15 cases between June 2019 and March 2022 of retaliation against human rights defenders that she alleges can be linked to the activities of Canadian mining companies.
We continue to follow this.
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