Human Rights Monitor
Dr. Beverly Jacobs
Indigenous Human Rights Monitor
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Q: What is the role of a Human Rights Monitor?
Human rights monitoring seeks to gather information [regarding a specific situation] or region over time with the goal of engaging in advocacy to address human rights violations. This role also involves a process of documenting violations and practices related to rights so that the information can be categorized, verified, and used effectively.1 It also includes observing events, visiting sites, and discussions with Government authorities to obtain information and to pursue remedies and other immediate follow-up.2
Q: What is the mandate of the Indigenous Human Rights Monitor?
The Indigenous Human Rights Monitor’s mandate is to monitor, examine, and assess the fairness, integrity and transparency of the Multi-Jurisdictional Police Task Force’s (“Task Force”) investigation.
Q: Why do we need to monitor the Task Force?
Given the long and documented history of the failures of the justice system — in particular the death investigation system as it relates to the deaths of Indigenous people — the Survivors’ Group wishes to appoint, through the Survivors’ Secretariat, an Indigenous Human Rights Monitor. This individual will monitor, verify and report back to the Survivors the work of the Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force investigation.
Q: How is the Task Force being monitored?
To conduct their role, the Indigenous Human Rights Monitor may:
- Review any documents or information they deem useful for their work from the Task Force;
- Communicate with the Joint Management Team and/or Major Case Manager of the investigators to the Task Force on any matter relevant to their mandate;
- Meet with anyone able to provide information relevant to the assessment of the investigation’s fairness, integrity, and transparency;
- Visit any locations related to the investigation, as deemed necessary by the Monitor;
- Review any statements, whether they are in the form of transcripts, video or by witnessing them as they are being collected from a nearby room via video link or other viewing means as necessitated by the circumstances.
Q: What else should I know about the Human Rights Monitor?
The Indigenous Human Rights Monitor:
- Is not a member of the Task Force or the Secretariat;
- Is not required to disclose to the Task Force any notes, documents, and records prepared or obtained by, or given to them;
- Reports quarterly to the Survivors’ Secretariat, including the Survivors’ Group, by attending the Survivors’ Group meetings;
- Will provide a final written report of their work and findings relating to their assessment of the fairness, integrity and transparency of the Task Force’s investigation. This Final Report will be made public by the Survivors’ Secretariat.