Tell Your Story to the United Nations

NAPO was one of the first non-governmental organizations in the world to appear before the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to present evidence on poverty in Canada showing how Canada was not living up to its obligations as a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. At the last periodic reporting session in 1998, NAPO, together with the Charter Committee on Poverty Issues and Low Income Families Together, presented evidence that was used by the UN Committee in questioning the Canadian government about their report and was influencial in shaping the Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on Canada`s report.

NAPO is now preparing another Altenative Report to present to the Committee in 2006 and wants to be able to provide evidence on violations of human rights that are guaranteed in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. NAPO would like to include real stories about real Canadians.

If you have a story to tell about yourself and your experience(s) of poverty in Canada, please type your story text in the box on the screen (or cut and paste text from a word document into the box).

It would be helpful if you could identify which of the following key rights enshrined in international human rights charters and covenants, in your view, have been violated in your case:

1) the right to income security

2) the right to housing

3) The right to food

4) The principle of non-discrimination

All submissions will be read and considered. NAPO cannot guarantee that your comments will be included in the final Report. Your story may be used in other aspects of NAPO’s work such as reporting to Parliament.

NAPO promises to respect your privacy and your name will not be used unless you consent. (Check out NAPO Privacy and Confidentiality Policy)

When you are finished typing your story, please click on the Submit button under the box to send your work to NAPO.