Beyond Self-Congratulations: The Charter at 25 in an International Perspective

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the authors situate the Canadian human rights evolution in an international context. They look first at the context of the Charters adoption and the characteristics that make it an agent of positive social change in Canada. Secondly, they discuss three areas where interaction between international legal values and our domestic human rights system can be rendered more effective: a) the use of international law in defining the content and possible limitations of Charter rights; b) the increased necessity for a better implementation of international human rights obligations and interaction with international bodies; and c) the appropriateness of Canada's full integration to the Americas' human rights system. They conclude by discussing briefly two key challenges ahead for meaningful rights protection in Canada, namely the full recognition of economic, social, and cultural rights and access to justice.