Links > Legal > Human Rights Resources
The following links are for human rights resources. Unless otherwise noted, the content of the following links are written from a Canadian perspective. Links to other relevant TESA resources are included at the end of the page, if applicable.
Note: These resources are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute legal or medical advice.
Note: These resources are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute legal or medical advice.
Canadian trans (human) rights
Laws, including laws about human rights, vary by jurisdiction. The following links are written from a Canadian legal perspective:
McKay-Panos (2014) -- Human rights of transgender persons
Ontario Human Rights Commission (2014) -- Policy on Preventing Discrimination because of Gender Identity and Gender
Alberta Justice and Solicitor General (2014) -- Domestic violence handbook for Police and Crown Prosecutors in Alberta
Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (2013) -- Breaking Grounds: Gender Identity and Human Rights Legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada
Canadian Human Rights Commission (2012) -- Protect rights of transgender people
Alberta Human Rights Commission (2010) -- Human rights in Alberta Plain language information booklet
Public Service Alliance of Canada (2008) -- Trans rights primer
Lancaster House Labour Law On-Line (1998) -- Transsexualism: a prohibited ground of discrimination?
Ontario Human Rights Commission (no date) -- Gender identity and gender expression
Please also see TESA's
-- fact page regarding Human rights across Canada (gender identity; gender expression) (2016)
Laws, including laws about human rights, vary by jurisdiction. The following links are written from a Canadian legal perspective:
McKay-Panos (2014) -- Human rights of transgender persons
Ontario Human Rights Commission (2014) -- Policy on Preventing Discrimination because of Gender Identity and Gender
Alberta Justice and Solicitor General (2014) -- Domestic violence handbook for Police and Crown Prosecutors in Alberta
Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (2013) -- Breaking Grounds: Gender Identity and Human Rights Legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada
Canadian Human Rights Commission (2012) -- Protect rights of transgender people
Alberta Human Rights Commission (2010) -- Human rights in Alberta Plain language information booklet
Public Service Alliance of Canada (2008) -- Trans rights primer
Lancaster House Labour Law On-Line (1998) -- Transsexualism: a prohibited ground of discrimination?
Ontario Human Rights Commission (no date) -- Gender identity and gender expression
Please also see TESA's
-- fact page regarding Human rights across Canada (gender identity; gender expression) (2016)
International trans (human) rights
While laws about human rights vary by jurisdiction, Canada is also a signatory to important international treaties regarding human rights. The following links are written from an international law perspective that may also include Canadian obligations:
International Bar Association (2014) -- Mr & Mr X: The rights of transgender persons globally
WPATH (INT) (2014) -- WPATH statement concerning cross-dressing, gender-nonconformity, and gender dysphoria
Global Action for Trans Equality (International) (2014) -- The State of Trans* and Intersex Organizing
International Commission of Jurists (International) (2007) -- The Yogyakarta Principles: the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity
While laws about human rights vary by jurisdiction, Canada is also a signatory to important international treaties regarding human rights. The following links are written from an international law perspective that may also include Canadian obligations:
International Bar Association (2014) -- Mr & Mr X: The rights of transgender persons globally
WPATH (INT) (2014) -- WPATH statement concerning cross-dressing, gender-nonconformity, and gender dysphoria
Global Action for Trans Equality (International) (2014) -- The State of Trans* and Intersex Organizing
International Commission of Jurists (International) (2007) -- The Yogyakarta Principles: the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity
Other Nations' trans (human) rights
Sometimes ideas developed in one jurisdiction may be helpful in another. The following links are written from the perspective of many different nations or national unions:
European Union
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (EU) (2014) -- Being Trans in the European Union: Comparative analysis of EU LGBT survey data
Gender Recognition Advisory Group (Ireland) (2011) -- Report to Joan Burton, T.D., Minister for Social Protection
Commissioner for Human Rights Council of Europe (EU) (2009) -- Issue paper: Human rights and gender identity
ILGA (EU) (2008) -- Transgender EuroStudy: Legal survey and focus on the transgender experience of health care
Equalities Review (UK) (2007) -- Engendered penalties: Transgender and transsexual people's experience of inequality and discrimination
United States
Movement Advancement Project et al (USA) (2015) -- Understanding issues facing transgender Americans
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (USA) (2013) -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence in 2013
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (USA) (2013) -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Hate Violence in 2013
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (USA) (2012) -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence in 2012
National Center for Transgender Equality (USA) (2012) -- A Blueprint for Equality: A federal agenda for transgender people
National Center for Transgender Equality (USA) (2011) -- Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey
Dean Spade (USA) (2009) -- [video] Impossible People
The Policy Institute of NGLTF (USA) (2000) -- Transgender Equality: A handbook for activists and policymakers
Sometimes ideas developed in one jurisdiction may be helpful in another. The following links are written from the perspective of many different nations or national unions:
European Union
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (EU) (2014) -- Being Trans in the European Union: Comparative analysis of EU LGBT survey data
Gender Recognition Advisory Group (Ireland) (2011) -- Report to Joan Burton, T.D., Minister for Social Protection
Commissioner for Human Rights Council of Europe (EU) (2009) -- Issue paper: Human rights and gender identity
ILGA (EU) (2008) -- Transgender EuroStudy: Legal survey and focus on the transgender experience of health care
Equalities Review (UK) (2007) -- Engendered penalties: Transgender and transsexual people's experience of inequality and discrimination
United States
Movement Advancement Project et al (USA) (2015) -- Understanding issues facing transgender Americans
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (USA) (2013) -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence in 2013
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (USA) (2013) -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Hate Violence in 2013
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (USA) (2012) -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence in 2012
National Center for Transgender Equality (USA) (2012) -- A Blueprint for Equality: A federal agenda for transgender people
National Center for Transgender Equality (USA) (2011) -- Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey
Dean Spade (USA) (2009) -- [video] Impossible People
The Policy Institute of NGLTF (USA) (2000) -- Transgender Equality: A handbook for activists and policymakers
Please also see TESA's
-- fact page regarding Human rights across Canada (gender identity; gender expression) (2016)
-- fact page regarding School inclusion in Alberta (gender identity; gender minorities) (2016)
-- media release: TESA jubilant gender identity, gender expression enumerated in Alberta law (2015)
-- media release: TESA condemns federal trans-exclusionary amendment to Bill C-279 (2015)
-- letter regarding amending the Alberta Human Rights Act to include "gender identity" and "gender expression" (2014)
-- report State of Trans in Alberta: Trans Day of Visibility (2014)
-- media release: Inaugural report outlines State of Trans* in Alberta (2014)
-- media release: Cities of Calgary and Edmonton support trans advocacy (2013)
-- Canadian Senate submission regarding adding the term "gender identity" to Canadian statutes (2013)
-- media release: TESA responds to trans rights Bill C-279 passing Parliament (2013)
-- Canadian Parliament submission regarding adding the terms "gender identity" and "gender expression to Canadian laws (2012)
-- media release: Trans rights Bill C-389 dies in Senate upon election call (2011)
-- media release: New Albertan transgender organization to appear at regional Pride events (2009)
-- fact page regarding Human rights across Canada (gender identity; gender expression) (2016)
-- fact page regarding School inclusion in Alberta (gender identity; gender minorities) (2016)
-- media release: TESA jubilant gender identity, gender expression enumerated in Alberta law (2015)
-- media release: TESA condemns federal trans-exclusionary amendment to Bill C-279 (2015)
-- letter regarding amending the Alberta Human Rights Act to include "gender identity" and "gender expression" (2014)
-- report State of Trans in Alberta: Trans Day of Visibility (2014)
-- media release: Inaugural report outlines State of Trans* in Alberta (2014)
-- media release: Cities of Calgary and Edmonton support trans advocacy (2013)
-- Canadian Senate submission regarding adding the term "gender identity" to Canadian statutes (2013)
-- media release: TESA responds to trans rights Bill C-279 passing Parliament (2013)
-- Canadian Parliament submission regarding adding the terms "gender identity" and "gender expression to Canadian laws (2012)
-- media release: Trans rights Bill C-389 dies in Senate upon election call (2011)
-- media release: New Albertan transgender organization to appear at regional Pride events (2009)