« L’éducation est un droit de l’homme, porteur d’un immense espoir de transformation. La liberté, la démocratie, le développement humain durable reposent sur ce droit. »
- Kofi Annan.

THE CIDDHU : AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO STRENGTHEN THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

UQAM’s International Clinic for the Defense of Human Rights (CIDDHU in its French acronym) is an academic activity, based at the University of Québec in Montréal (Canada). It is carried out by teams of students working under the direct supervision of professors and attorneys. Various initiatives aimed at the promotion and protection of human rights are undertaken in cooperation with human rights defenders and non governmental organizations (NGOs) working in that field.

As the first academic project of this type in Quebec, the CIDDHU allows students to contribute to the preparation and handling of cases and to acquire a practical experience in the defense of human rights, while they familiarize themselves with the methodological and ethical challenges attached to this committed work.

Strategically located at the crossroads of the Americas and the Francophonie, the CIDDHU is already working on a number of cases in Latin America and Africa, while developing initiatives in Asia. The CIDDHU is currently involved in various thematic areas such as the fight against impunity, women’s rights, the rights of indigenous peoples, and international humanitarian law.

MISSION

The CIDDHU trains students in the practice of international human rights law. The CIDDHU offers assistance, free of charge, to victims and human rights defenders, by providing the following services, among others:

• Legal research and drafting;
• Filing legal actions before international human rights bodies;
• Raising awareness both of the public and of the political community;
• Capacity building and development of intervention strategies, etc

As part of its activities, the CIDDHU continuously produces new reports. Here are documents produced by the CIDDHU’s students and lawyers, including thematic reports and activity reports.

Contact us:

Clinique internationale de défense des droits humains de l’UQAM (CIDDHU)

Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Faculté de science politique et de droit
Département des sciences juridiques
Case postale 8888, succursale Centre-Ville
Montréal (Québec) H3C 3P8 CANADA
Tel : (+1) (514) 987-3000 extension : 3892
Fax : (+1) (514) 987-4784
Email : ciddhu@uqam.ca
Website : http://www.ciddhu.uqam.ca
Pr, Mirja Trilsch, Director
Tel : (+1) (514) 987-3000 extension: 2439
Fax : (+1) (514) 987-4784
Email : trilsch.mirja@uqam.ca

You can help!

Your contribution helps the CIDDHU to pursue and expand its mission. Contributions can be made through the Fondation UQAM (registered organisation No. 11892 1808 RR0001).

Contact
Myriam Chautard
Fondation UQAM
Case postale 8888, succursale Centre-Ville
Montréal (Québec) H3C 3P8 CANADA
Email : fondation@uqam.ca
Tél : (+1) (514) 987-3000 ext.1817
Fax : (+1) (514) 987-6739