Human Rights Learning Forum

The Human Rights Learning Forum is an Ottawa Police Service (OPS) initiative designed to support shared learning, dialogue, and institutional accountability on human rights, equity, and policing practice. The Forum brings together community members, subject matter experts, and OPS members to examine how human rights standards apply in policing contexts and how they can be meaningfully implemented in practice.

The Forum reflects OPS’s commitment to transparency, continuous learning, and human rights-based organizational change, in alignment with the DRIVE² Strategy (2023–2027).

Save the Date: December 3, 2026

Join us for the 11^th Annual Ottawa Police Human Rights Learning Forum on Thursday, December 3, 2026. This annual event brings together community members, police officers, and human rights experts to explore, discuss, and advance understanding of human rights issues in policing and society.

Stay tuned for updates on the 2026 forum agenda, speakers, and registration details.

Purpose

The Human Rights Learning Forum provides a structured space to:

Promote understanding of international, domestic, and local human rights standards relevant to policing

Support dialogue on systemic issues, emerging risks, and good practices

Strengthen OPS and community capacity to identify, prevent, and address discrimination and harm

Contribute to informed policy development, practice review, and cultural change

The Forum supports learning, reflection, and exchange to inform OPS’s broader human rights and equity work.

What the Forum Focuses On

Topics explored through previous Human Rights Learning Forums have included:

Human rights-based policing and service delivery

Equity, discrimination, and systemic bias

Gender equality and intersectionality

Accountability, access to remedy, and oversight

Community trust, legitimacy, and public confidence

Translating human rights standards into operational policy and practice

Topics are informed by community input, emerging issues, and OPS organizational priorities.

Who Participates

Participation in the Human Rights Learning Forum may include:

Community members and community-based organizations

Human rights and subject matter experts

OPS members from across the Service

Representatives from oversight or advisory bodies

The Forum is grounded in respectful engagement, diverse perspectives, and shared learning.

How the Forum Is Used

Insights from the Human Rights Learning Forum may:

Inform OPS learning and development initiatives

Contribute to policy, procedure, or practice reviews

Support implementation of the DRIVE2 Strategy

Identify areas for further engagement or capacity building.

Forum insights are regularly captured through reports such as:

A Journey of Healing and Restoration, the 2023 Human Rights Learning Forum.

Governance and Alignment

The Human Rights Learning Forum is supported by the Human Rights and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Unit within the Training, Development and Inclusion Directorate.

The Forum aligns with:

OPS’s human rights and equity commitments

The DRIVE² Strategy (2023–2027)

The Ottawa Police Service Board Strategic Direction

Transparency and Accountability

OPS is committed to using learning forums responsibly and transparently. The Human Rights Learning Forum supports OPS’s broader approach to open dialogue, community trust, and continuous improvement, while respecting privacy, safety, and ethical considerations.

Contact

For questions about the Human Rights Learning Forum, please contact:

Human Rights & Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Unit

Ottawa Police Service

Email: EDI@ottawapolice.ca

The Human Rights Learning Forum reflects OPS’s commitment to learning with the community, strengthening accountability, and embedding human rights in policing practice.