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KAIROS:  Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives

Contact1: Ms. Adiat Junaid, Communications Co-ordinator
Phone (Bus): (416)463-5312 Ext 223
(Fax): (416)463-5569
E-mail: ajunaid@kairoscanada.org

Address: 129 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, ON M4V 1N5
Web Site: www.kairoscanada.org

 Other Locations: Ottawa: Ed Bianchi (613)235-9956

Keys: original Affairs; Aboriginal Peoples; Aboriginal Rights; Aboriginal Studies; Aboriginal Title; Advocacy; Affordable Housing; Africa; Alternative Trade; Animation; Anti-Globalization Movement; Asia; Biotechnology; Burma; Canadian Foreign Aid; Canadian Social Policy; Christianity; Churches; Climate Change; Colombia; Corporate Responsibility; Debt Crisis; Development; East Timor; Ecology; Economic Development; Economic Justice; Ecuador; Education; Environment; Ethical Investment; Fair Trade; Federal Budget; First Nations; First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act; First Nations Governance Act; Foreign Aid; Foreign Debt; Foreign Direct Investment; Foreign Trade; Free Trade/NAFTA; FTAA; G7; G8; Genetic Engineering; Globalization; Global Justice; Global Warming; Greenhouse Effect; Guatemala; Health; Healthcare; Homelessness; Housing; Human Rights; IMF; Immigration; Impunity; Indigenous Peoples; Indonesia; Inherent Rights; International Development; International Finance; International Monetary Fund; Investment; Iraq; Kyoto Protocol; Land Claims; Land Rights; Latin America; Maquilas; Middle East; Migrant Workers; Mining; Native Issues; Oil and War; Organization of American States; Palestine; Peace; Popular Education; Poverty;  Racism; Refugees; Religion; Resource Extraction; Romanow Commission; Sanctions Against Iraq; Self-determination; Social Justice; Sovereignty; Specific Claims Act; Specific Claims Commission; Specific Independent Claims Commission; Sri Lanka; Structural Adjustment; Sudan; Sweatshops; Third World Development; Trade; Treaty Rights; United Nations; War Against Iraq; West Papua; World Bank; World Trade Organization; Ontario*.

Expertise: KAIROS is a national coalition of Canadian churches, church based agencies and religious organizations dedicated to promoting human rights, justice and peace, viable human development and universal solidarity.  It brings together the Aboriginal Rights Coalition, the Canada-Asia Working Group, the Ecumenical Coalition for Economic Justice, Inter-Church Action for Development Relief and Justice, the Inter-Church Coalition on Africa, Inter-Church Committee on Human Rights in Latin America, the Inter-Church Committee for Refugees, PLURA, the Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility and TEN DAYS for Global Justice.

KAIROS was established in 2001 and has 26 employees. However, the organizations which came together to form KAIROS have a 30 year history.

Mandate:

     1. International human rights: monitoring, exposing, and building public pressure for change around issues of human rights abuses, including the rights of refugees, uprooted people and migrants; accompaniment of oppressed groups in affected countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia; policy advocacy work with government and multilateral institutions like the United Nations and Organization of American States;

     2. Global economic justice: researching and critiquing the global economic system in relation to its lack of consideration of the social and environmental impacts on marginalized people; maintaining strategic alliances with Southern groups; critique of international financial institutions; policy advocacy with regard to economic alternatives; engaging Canadian corporations and financial institutions on issues of global corporate social responsibility;

     3. Environment/Ecological justice: monitoring environmental issues of concern; analysis of governmental, multilateral and corporate responsibility for environmental protection; promotion of alternatives for sustainable communities; policy advocacy work;

     4. Canadian social development: research in areas of health, housing, income security, family and child poverty, social and economic development; policy advocacy in response to existing refugee legislation and other government social policies; holding Canadian fiscal policy makers and business institutions accountable on issues of social responsibility;

     5. Aboriginal peoples: advocating with aboriginal peoples regarding aboriginal rights and land rights; responding to regional and local aboriginal communities to address cultural, social and economic issues; and

     6. Animation/education/communication: developing resources, training programs and other animation tools to assist grassroots ecumenical social justice networks in educating and campaigning on key issues; nurturing and supporting the growth and development of these networks.

Story Ideas:
2007
May 29, 2007: "Dirty Water" Advocacy Tour Demands Ottawa Adopt Recommendations to End Canadian Mining Abuses
May 22, 2007: "Dirty Water" Tour: Activist Experts and Canadian Church Leaders Demand Ottawa Adopt Recommendations to End Canadian Mining Abuses
March 22, 2007: Thousands of Canadians demand Ottawa endorse water as a human right on World Water Day 2007 - KAIROS and other groups spearhead cross country events
Marcy 21, 2007: Coast to coast, Canadians speak out for clean water - World Water Day
March 15, 2007: KAIROS "Bottled Water Hall of Shame" to be Disclosed Following NFB Screening of Film The Right to Water
March 7, 2007: Seven Steps for Peace in Darfur - KAIROS Takes Message to New United Nations Human Council in Geneva
February 26, 2007: Political Killings in the Philippines Must Stop: Delegation to visit Canada, U.S. and Europe to draw International Attention to Attacks on Activists

2006
November 9, 2006: Joint Press Conference: Government at Odds with Canadian Public Opinion on the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples
October 10, 2006: KAIROS Calls for Binding Legislation at Federal Roundtable in Calgary on Oil, Gas and Mining - Colombia Union Activist Participates
September 17, 2006: Masses Scream for Action at Toronto Global Day for Darfur Rally Headlined by Senator Romeo Da Bedouin Soundclash, and Justin Trudeau
August 8, 2006: Canadian Churches host International Ecumenical Pre-Conference on AIDS in advance of the XVI International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2006)
June 8, 2006: House of Commons Aboriginal Affairs Committee Expresses Support for the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
June 2006: National Conference Draws Canadian and International Activists Calling for Improved Immigration System
May 2, 2006: Undocumented Workers in Canada Share Their Stories - Borderless Film Premier
March 20, 2006: Water Water Day: Canadian Groups Mobilize for the Right to Water at Home and Abroad
March 9, 2006: Kairos Heads to World Water Forum in Mexico

2005
November 28, 2005: KAIROS and faith communities active at United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montréal
October 20, 2005: Mexican and Philippine towns bear brunt of destructive Canadian mining practices: federal government fails to respond
July 19, 2005: Media advisory: Beyond Live 8 and the G8: In-depth analysis of G8 Summit by KAIROS- Canadian NGO experts on debt cancellation now available
June 20, 2005: Government Delays Response on Refugee Appeal Division
June 10, 2005: Public Access To Safe Water At Risk: Churches Demand Action
May 6, 2005: Mexican Community visited by KAIROS Delegation Celebrates Important Victory
March 30, 2005: Thousands tell government:"Obey your own laws; implement appeal process for refugees."
March 29, 2005: Canadian church leaders witness the failures of NAFTA in Mexico
March 8, 2005: Delegation to Mexico looks at poverty, murder, Canadian mining practices and other free-trade by-products
February 16, 2005: Celebration of Kyoto Protocol: Groups Call for Government and Industry Leadership in Meeting Targets
January 6, 2005: Canadian coalition demands demilitarization of aid in Aceh, as Indonesian military continues attacks

updated: January 22, 2008