What are human rights?

Human rights are rights to live and work without discrimination. Laws in Canada, including the Alberta Human Rights Act, protect human rights.

About human rights

Human rights affirm and protect the right of every individual to live and work without discrimination. Human rights policies and legislation contribute to a climate respecting the dignity, worth, and rights of all people.

Human rights are protected in Alberta through various laws, including:

• Alberta Human Rights Act
• Canadian Human Rights Act
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

What you need to know

• In Canada, there are several sources of human rights law, including provincial and territorial, federal, and international laws.
• Every province and territory in Canada has its own human rights legislation.
• The Alberta Human Rights Act is provincial human rights legislation that applies across Alberta.
• The Canadian Human Rights Act is human rights legislation that only applies to federally regulated settings.
• Federally, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms recognizes the right of individuals to be free from discrimination on certain grounds.
• Internationally, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out universal human rights.

Alberta Human Rights Act

The Alberta Human Rights Act protects Albertans from discrimination in protected areas and based on protected grounds . The purpose of the Act is to make sure everyone can participate equally in various aspects of life in Alberta. This means making sure everyone has an equal opportunity to earn a living, find a place to live, and enjoy services customarily available to the public, without discrimination.

The Alberta Human Rights Commission deals with issues of discrimination protected by the Alberta Human Rights Act.