Commission’s history and legacy

New Brunswick’s human rights history reflects decades of progress, shaped by the voices and actions of trailblazers who advocated for the principles of dignity, respect, and equality in our communities. Their efforts helped bring human rights issues into the forefront of public debate, challenge prejudice and biases, and promote lasting change in our provincial laws and institutions.

On September 15, 1967, these efforts led to the passing of the New Brunswick Human Rights Act – the provincial law that protects individuals from discrimination and harassment – and the establishment of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, responsible for upholding the Act’s protections. Over the years, the Human Rights Act has been expanded to reflect the diverse identities and lived experiences of New Brunswickers, ensuring every person’s right to equality, dignity, and inclusion and their right to equal opportunities in the province.

New Brunswick also played an important role in the establishment and development of human rights at the global stage. After the establishment of the United Nations at the end of the Second World War, John Peters Humphrey of Hampton, New Brunswick, was appointed as the first Director of the UN’s Division for Human Rights, and, in that capacity, wrote the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a landmark international human rights document that continues to be used as a benchmark for human rights standards around the world.

To learn more about the history of human rights in our province, explore this collection of resources, archival material, videos, external links, etc.