On June 23, 2026, Peace Brigades International presented at the “Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on peaceful assembly and association” during the 14th Meeting of the 62nd Session of Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
The PBI presentation (starting here at 1:03:29) noted concerns our concerns in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Kenya, Colombia and Canada.
The portion that was read about the situation in Canada noted: “Indigenous land defenders resisting extractive megaprojects experience digital surveillance and open-source intelligence.”
Our fuller statement included: “In Canada, Indigenous land defenders resisting extractive megaprojects have experienced digital surveillance through open-source intelligence monitoring and drone surveillance by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). They have also experienced surveillance by the RCMP when participating in civic activism, including National Energy Board hearings on a pipeline. We additionally have the concern that the RCMP are using predictive algorithm technology to surveil Indigenous land and environmental defenders in Canada.”
To read more about the situation in Canada and the concerns expressed by the Special Rapporteur on peaceful assembly and association, please see PBI-Canada attentive to UN Human Rights Council session on digital surveillance, notes RCMP surveillance of Indigenous land defenders (June 13, 2026).
Previous interventions at the UN
On September 28, 2023, PBI also noted concerns during the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, José Francisco Calí Tzay. At that time, we stated: “In Canada, we draw your attention to the continued harassment of Wet’suwet’en land defenders opposed to the Coastal GasLink pipeline by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Community-Industry Response Group. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has repeatedly called on Canada to remove the Mounted Police and private security from Wet’suwet’en territory.”
On September 28, 2022, PBI also noted Canada during the Interactive Dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At that time, we stated: “The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination [CERD] has called on Canada to stop construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline on Wet’suwet’en territory. Canada ratified this International Convention in 1970 and said in 2016 that it supported the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, however, the construction of this gas pipeline without consent continues as does the criminalization of land defenders.”
Canada seeks seat on Human Rights Council
Canada is continuing to seek a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2028 to 2030. Canada has previously stated that its candidacy is based on six priorities including: “Seeking justice and accountability for those on the frontlines of defending human rights”.
The UN General Assembly vote on what countries will participate in the 47-member Human Rights Council is expected in October 2026.
