News | Inter Pares

Photo of two people sitting on either side of a wide, moss-covered tree stump. One points at the surface of the stump. In the background, there are tall trees and a totem pole.

Planning is resistance: Indigenous people in Burma envision a self-determined future

Burma and Haida Gwaii are worlds apart but neighbours in the struggle for self-determination.

Stop a Canadian company from bankrolling war crimes in Burma

We must ensure no Canadian company is complicit in the Burma military junta’s war crimes.

Scaling mountains to report the news

"Under the military council, we cannot go back.”

Building a federal democracy from the ground up

Amidst the chaos of conflict in Burma, people like Khu Lay are finding hope in structures many in other countries take for granted: regional govern

Marking the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 marks the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Sowing food sovereignty, cultivating relationships

Inter Pares helps farmers in Canada push for better climate policy, support migrant farm workers and build relationships between settler farmers and Indigenous communities.

Resisting lithium mining in Quebec

Below the surface of the unceded territory of the Anicinape Aki, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue in western Quebec, a rare resource has caught the eye of

Wage solidarity campaign for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

For the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept.

Countering corporate control at COP27 climate negotiations

“Thoughts and feelings only go so far... Economic reconciliation is backing up those feelings.”

Photo showing many people, including children and babies, waiting for food distribution.

Balancing today’s needs and tomorrow’s hopes in Burma

The civil society organizations in Burma are doing double duty: providing emergency support to communities and building the systems they need for a democratic future.

2nd National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Events, webinars, media, and solidarity actions in the National Capital Region on Algonquin Territory.

Group photo of about 25 children and youth. Each wears a cylindrical paper hat on their head, some with the word "Freedom" written on them. A few of the youth are holding up two large protest signs.

Indigenous voices at the heart of resistance in Burma

Indigenous activists are refusing to let inequalities of past struggles repeat themselves.

Decolonization here at home

Since our founding, we have sought to understand our role as an anti-colonial organization in a sector with deep colonial roots.

Text over a bluish green watercolour background says "BOOK LAUNCH // présentation DE LIVRE - by // par Inter Pares - Sacred Bundles Unborn - by // par Morningstar Mercredi + Fire Keepers - Tickets are free! // Les billets sont gratuits ! - May 31 @ 7"

BOOK LAUNCH: Sacred Bundles Unborn by Morningstar Mercredi

Join us for the launch of a new book about the ongoing practice of forced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada.

Understanding the past, redefining the present

RUDA uses intergenerational storytelling to preserve historical memory and promote healing in Guatemala.

“You messed with the wrong generation”

Youth in Burma are leading the intergenerational uprising and showing a united front to decry a return to military rule.

Action Plan for Working in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in Canada

The Action Plan articulates our commitment to engage deeper and more intentionally on Indigenous rights.

Honouring 215 Indigenous children found at former residential school

Our hearts are heavy from the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc’s announcement.

Dismantling Systemic Racism and Exclusion in Colombia

For Manuel, ethno-education is not only an obligation of the State, it is fundamental to the dismantling of systemic racism and exclusion that Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities face.

Peace Parks: A Political Tool for Self-Determination

As Burma’s first Indigenous protected and conserved area, the Salween Peace Park is a vibrant example of grassroots self-determination.

Salween Peace Park awarded 2020 Equator Prize

Inter Pares extends a warm congratulations to the communities of the Salween Peace Park on receiving the prestigious 2020 Equator Prize.

Mae Tao Clinic: Thirty years of building healthy communities

The clinic’s momentous anniversary was celebrated and applauded at home in Mae Sot, Thailand and around the world.

Land is Life

Our counterparts in Burma courageously unite around the guiding principle that ‘land is life’.

40 years of social justice action: stories and lessons in new book by PCS

For 40 years, Inter Pares had the honour of working with the international NGO, Project Counselling Service (PCS).

What is Courage?

The people with whom Inter Pares works demonstrate profound courage, in their patience, persistence,fearlessness and motivation.

Inter Pares staff members Samantha McGavin and Rebecca Wolsak (at left and right) with CHRO's Sang Hnin Lian and KDNG's Steven Naw Awng (centre), speaking alongside Chris Lewa to MPs and Senators on Parliament Hill.

Broadening the conversation on Burma

In June 2018, Inter Pares organized a visit to Ottawa of colleagues in Kachin, Chin, and Arakan States, in order to bring their voices to policymakers and promote a comprehensive approach to Burma.

I Am Rohingya: A Genocide in Four Acts

This powerful documentary is about the journey of fourteen Rohingya refugee youth re-enacting their families' harrowing experiences in Burma and beyond.

Statement about the Tragedies of Colten Boushie and Tina Fontaine's Deaths

Inter Pares wishes to convey our profound sympathies to the families and communities of Colten Boushie and Tina Fontaine.

Plunder in the Borneo rainforest: A Canadian connection?

The Sarawak activists trying to “follow the money” and highlight a number of the factors that give Canada an international reputation as a safe haven for money laundering.

Samantha McGavin joins Amnesty’s Alex Neve and Kyle Matthews of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies in pressing for stronger Canadian measures. Also on stage: MPs Cheryl Hardcastle (at left) and Rob Oliphant (at right).

Inter Pares speaks out on Rohingya crisis, calls for immediate strong measures

Inter Pares remains highly concerned by the ongoing Rohingya crisis in Burma and Bangladesh, and by the pressing need for stronger action.

Joint statement on violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar

On September 26th, Inter Pares joined 30+ Canadian organizations and human rights activists in calling for further Canadian action on the crisis.

Statement on Latest Violence against the Rohingya Population in Burma

Inter Pares is gravely concerned regarding the latest wave of military violence against Rohingya civilians in northwestern Burma.

A New Vision for Land in Burma

Land is central to many social justice struggles around the world, and it’s no different in Burma. However, ethnic civil society organizations have a new vision for land use.

Countering Dehumanization and Hate

Since October 2016, the Burmese army has unleashed a new wave of violence against Rohingya Muslim civilians in the northwest of the country.

The Kuki Women’s Centre uses ground-breaking restorative justice techniques to address gender-based violence in their communities in Burma’s north west.

Taking a Feminist Approach

As a feminist organization with over forty years of experience, we have seen the transformative results of a feminist approach and we are keen to see it widely used.

The team and board members of Consejería Oxlajuj Ix CAMEX during the opening ceremony.

CAMEX: A new Latin American counterpart is born

CAMEX is building on the work of its predecessor, Project Counselling Service (PCS), which closed its doors in December 2016.

Flor Salvador: Witness to struggle and triumph in Mesoamerica

Program manager Guillaume Charbonneau tells us Flor's story and how she grew into her role supporting women's rights movements across Central America and Mexico.

The Messy Process of Peace

Peace. The word creates serene images of healthy communities. When countries

Forced Sterilizations in Peru: Never again

Mamérita Mestanza hadn’t reached her 34th birthday when she died from complications resulting from tubal ligation surgery. Her story is far from unique.

From the Land: 140 supporters reflect with us on reconciliation

On April 25th, 2016, 140 supporters and activists from Ottawa-Gatineau joined Inter Pares for the 2016 edition of its annual Speakers Series, "From the Land: Reconciliation in action in Canada and Colombia."

First-ever trial on sexual violence during armed conflict in Guatemala

14 Mayan Q'eqchí women demand justice for acts of sexual violence that they endured during the country's internal armed conflict.

Karen refugees from Burma play an active role in managing their own camps.

Picture a Refugee

Labels of "refugee" instead of "migrant" have power worldwide, including in Burma, where displaced people have many stories but with common threads.

Burma: Bringing Grassroots Experience to Canadian Policy

In March of 2015, Inter Pares hosted a delegation of four women from Burma to meet with people facing similar struggles, and to share camaraderie and strategies.