Our Story
Welcome to The Rights Clinic, established in July 2022 with a vision to broaden the horizons of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law’s clinical offerings and spearhead the protection and advancement of fundamental rights.
Our Mission:
At The Rights Clinic, our primary mission revolves around empowering individuals with a profound understanding of their rights while actively supporting public interest initiatives. We firmly believe that knowledge is the key to fostering a just and equitable society. As a result, we have chosen to focus on enhancing awareness and education about rights rather than providing legal advice or representation services.
Our Purpose:
The Rights Clinic was founded with a profound sense of purpose – to become a catalyst for positive change in the realm of human rights. We are committed to cultivating a community of informed individuals who can effectively engage with matters concerning their rights and responsibilities. By championing this cause, we aim to create a more compassionate, inclusive, and just world for all.
The main components of the Rights Clinic are:
Non-litigation advocacy, raising public awareness about vital rights issues
Rights-related academic research in the form of a mini “think tank.”
Informational presentations and seminars so that members of the public can be better informed about their rights and the rights of others
“A healthy democracy rests upon a legal framework that protects fundamental legal rights, guards against discrimination and marginalization of minorities, and encourages the engagement of citizens in the process of government. Implicit in that legal framework is a role for the courts.”
Robert J Sharpe & Kent Roach, The Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 7th ed
(Toronto: Irwin Law, 2021) at 37