Manitobans for Human Rights is a non-profit, non-partisan association that has two goals in mind. The first is to promote human rights learning throughout the Province of Manitoba to many different sectors of society. This goal is based on the conviction that for human rights to be effective all women, men, youth and children must know, must own and internalize the holistic vision and practical m
ission of human rights –so that in a dynamic way it becomes relevant to their daily concerns . The second goal is to work towards the goal of having Winnipeg designated as a Human Rights City to the gradual development of a community based on equality and non-discrimination. A city that encourages people to more actively participate in the decisions that affect their daily lives guided by the human rights framework. The formation of Manitobans for Human Rights is based on the belief that the key is to extend human rights learning to as many as possible. We recognize that there are groups, associations and agencies working on some aspect of human rights education. Though often working separately and in isolation of one another. They are working on the issues of women, children, workers, First Nations, persons with disabilities, ethnic and cultural groups, poverty, education, food, housing, health care, justice and conflict resolution. It is our hope that with human rights as an overriding factor uniting all, that members of these groups and others will join Manitobans for Human Rights in the sharing of data, resources, issues and most especially working with educators and others in promoting human rights learning to as many
citizens as possible. Our intent is to engage the creative force of the media and the internet. The formation of Manitobans for Human Rights was inspired by two visits to the City of Winnipeg by Shulamith Koenig, the recipient of the 2003 United Nations Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Human Rights. Shulamith is the 5th American recipient of the UN Human Rights Award. The
others include: Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jimmy Carter, and James Grant. Shula, in her two visits to Winnipeg has truly been an inspiration to many. As Shula says “We yearn for a world where we all learn to recognize the humanity of the other as our own “.
