ICC Granted Standing at Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes
We are pleased to inform you that the ICC has been granted standing at the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes in Canada. This is a crucial opportunity for us to actively participate in ensuring the transparency and fairness of our electoral system.
As an organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and interests of Iranian Canadians, this is a pivotal moment for us to contribute to safeguarding the democratic process in our country. However, we cannot do this alone.
In order to effectively represent our community's concerns and interests at the inquiry, we need your support. We are reaching out to our members, donors, and supporters to ask for your assistance in this matter.
Here's how you can help:
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Financial Contributions: Your donations will enable us to cover legal expenses, research costs, and other necessary expenditures related to our participation in the inquiry. No amount is too small, and every contribution makes a difference.
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Spread the Word: Please share this news with your networks and encourage others to support our efforts. The more people we have standing with us, the stronger our voice will be.
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Volunteer: If you have expertise or skills that could be valuable to our efforts, we welcome your volunteer assistance. Whether it's legal expertise, research skills, or outreach support, your contribution can have a meaningful impact.
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Stay Informed and Engaged: Keep up to date with developments related to the inquiry and participate in relevant advocacy efforts. Your engagement is vital in ensuring that our community's concerns are heard and addressed.
We are committed to representing the interests of Iranian Canadians and advocating for a fair and transparent electoral process. With your support, we can make a meaningful impact at this critical juncture.
If you would like to contribute or get involved, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] .
Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to the Iranian Canadian community.
Statement regarding the recent escalation of conflict in the Red Sea
Iranian Canadian Congress expresses disappointment in Canada’s decision to participate in the US-led military operation in the Red Sea. Given the exceptionally heightened tensions, these military interventions pose a significant risk of escalating West Asia into a full-scale war, which would be catastrophic for all parties involved, particularly the civilian population throughout the region.
For over three months, Canadians have been fervently urging their elected representatives to advocate for an immediate and lasting ceasefire to bring an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. It is imperative for the Canadian government to demand a ceasefire alongside South Africa in the International Court of Justice against the genocide in Gaza and call for the immediate removal of the blockade affecting the fundamental livelihood of the Gaza population, including access to clean water, food and medication.
We urge Canada to assume a constructive role in the region, fostering implementation of UN Resolutions, peace, justice and stability rather than contributing to war and destruction. Canadians seek a sustainable ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, fearing the potential expansion of the conflict into neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Iran.
Participating in military actions that jeopardize Canadian lives and perpetuate the loss of innocent men, women, and children in West Asia offers no benefit to Canadians and is instead a stain on Canada’s global reputation. It is crucial for Canada to prioritize diplomatic solutions and actively work towards a peaceful resolution in the region.
Read moreThe federal government's position on the Kerman terrorist attack
Statement on the 4th anniversary of the downing of flight PS752 and the recent terrorist attack in Iran
As we are approaching the fourth anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752 by IRGC missiles, we commemorate the victims of this tragedy as well as those killed this week in the terrorist attack for which ISIS has claimed responsibility in Kerman, Iran.
As Prime Minister Trudeau rightfully noted in 2020, “If there were no tensions, if there was no escalation recently in the region, those Canadians would be right now home with their families."
It is crucial to acknowledge that the first victims of war and conflict are innocent civilians. Furthermore, as the tragic incident of Flight PS752 has shown, any threat to innocent lives in Iran is also a threat to Canadian lives.
Tensions are extraordinarily high, with the United States, Iran, and Israel going on the brink of a regional war that would be disastrous for all involved, including civilian populations across the region.
We urge the government of Canada to condemn this attack and express solidarity with the people of Iran. Acts of terrorism anywhere in the world inherently oppose humanity, morality, and global unity, and are to be strongly condemned.
The ties between Canadians and Iranians run deep, necessitating that Canada plays a positive role in the region to foster peace and stability. This includes pursuing a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, drawing on Canada's longstanding tradition of mediation and diplomacy.
In the face of this tragic and devastating event, it is imperative to stand together as a community—united and strong. Let us share our compassion, empathy, and connectedness while sympathizing with the grief-stricken families who have lost their loved ones.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish recovery for those injured in the terrorist attack.
Iranian Canadian Congress
Read more
ICC Letters & Statements 2023
This is a summary list of public letters & statements issued by Iranian Canadian Congress in 2023:
January 8th: ICC statement on 3rd anniversary of downing of flight PS752
January 31st: Support for Khoy Earthquake victims
March 30th: بیانیه کنگره ایرانیان کانادا در مورد اتهامات بی پایه و تعرض به فرایند انتخاباتی دموکراتیک این نهاد
April 19th: ICC Board Of Directors post AGM2023 and appointment of Officers & Department Chairs
May 29th: ICC statement condemning harassment of women in the work place
June 22nd: Question for Mayoral Candidates of Toronto election 2023
July 10th: ICC open letter to MEC regarding the incident with an Iranian Canadian citizen
October 20th: Joint statement: Ceasefire now, end the siege, for a just and lasting peace
October 30th: Educational documents and tools against Online harassment and cyberbullying
Letter from Minister of Foreign Affairs for using the term "Persian Gulf" in their communications
In January 2022, the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs used a fake term for the Persian Gulf during a series of tweets.
The Iranian Canadian Congress protested this issue in various ways and shared this protest with the members of the Canadian Parliament.
Last week, Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia,MP, sent the official response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada to Mr. Mohammad Vahidi Rad, a member of the Board of Directors of the Iranian Congress of Canada.
In an official letter, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Ms. Melanie Jolly, while acknowledging the permanent name of the Persian Gulf in her official letter, in a way explained the tweet of the Foreign Affairs to a physical border and emphasized that the federal government also uses and will use the term Persian Gulf in their communications regarding the body of water.
در ماه ژانویه 2022 وزارت امور خارجه کانادا در طی یک رشته توئیت از عبارت جعلی برای خلیج فارس استفاده کرد.
کنگره ایرانیان کانادا از طرق مختلف به این موضوع اعتراض کرد و این اعتراض را با نمایندگان پارلمان کانادا نیز در میان گذاشت.
هفته گذشته، آقای فرانسیس اسکارپالجیا، یکی از نمایندگان کهنه کار پارلمان کانادا، پاسخ رسمی وزارت خارجه کانادا به اعتراض آقای محمد وحیدی راد، عضو هیات مدیره کنگره ایرانیان کانادا را به ایشان ارسال کرد.
وزیر امور خارجه کانادا خانم ملانی جولی طی یک نامه رسمی ضمن اذعان به نام همیشگی خلیج فارس در نامه رسمی خود، به نوعی عمل سال گذشته وزارت امور خارجه را به مرز سیاسی تشبیه کرد و تاکید داشت که دولت فدرال نیز از عبارت خلیج فارس استفاده میکند و خواهد کرد.
Suicide prevention guideline for media
Foreign media outlets are widely publicizing articles in Persian regarding cases of suicide, without following proper guidelines for responsible reporting. Irresponsible media coverage of suicide can potentially lead to what is known as "suicide contagion" or the "Werther effect," where the reporting of suicide incidents can increase the risk of copycat suicides.
رسانه های فارسی زبان خارج از ایران اخبار خودکشی را به طور گسترده وبدون رعایت پروتکل های خبری منتشر می کنند. انتشار غیرمسؤلانه اخبار خودکشی دررسانه های پرمخاطب، عواقب خطرناکی برای جامعه به همراه دارد که یکی از آنها به عنوان «خودکشی تقلیدی» یا «اثر ورتر» شناخته می شود. پرداختن به جزییات خودکشی وبزرگنمایی وقهرمان سازی، موضوعاتی است که ممکن است افراد مستعد را ترغیب به خودکشی کند. در مواردی دیده شده که افراد از نحوه خودکشی افراد مشهور کپی برداری کرده اند.
Les médias étrangers diffusent largement des articles en persan concernant des cas de suicide, sans suivre les directives appropriées pour un reportage responsable. Une couverture médiatique irresponsable du suicide peut potentiellement conduire à ce que l'on appelle le "contagion suicidaire" ou l'"effet Werther", où le reportage sur les incidents de suicide peut augmenter le risque de suicides imitatifs.
Read moreEducational documents and tools against Online harassment and cyberbullying
Since 2008, the Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) has worked tirelessly with the interests of the Iranian Canadian community in mind, and with the core values of peace, solidarity, freedom, justice and transparency. It is unfortunate that the ICC and its board members have frequently been the target of cyberbullying by individuals who oppose our core values, who choose aggression over peace, bullying over freedom of speech, and trolling while cowardly hiding behind their -sometimes unknown- online identity.
The ICC board members, and the members of the public alike, have been targeted by such bullies on many social media platforms, who aim to create a toxic atmosphere or hoping to interfere with or to discourage the board members from their peaceful activities.
The ICC board members are and have been aware and prepared to face the trolls and the toxic environment that they wish to create, finding encouragement instead of being discouraged, and determination instead of distraction. After all, the harder the trolls try, the more we have reason to believe in the positive impacts of ICC’s overall strategies, giving us more reason and determination to continue working toward our peaceful ambitions.
Despite the above, we condemn the acts of cyberbullying, and encourage our members and the public to stay sensitive about such activities. Cyberbullying, especially when it involves physical threats, is a criminal activity and the ICC will assess such activities going forward and may choose to report them to the respective social media platform, or in more serious cases to the police. For further information about cyberbullying please consult the following resources.
https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying
https://ssd.eff.org/module/your-security-plan
https://womensmediacenter.com/speech-project/tools-resources
https://www.datasociety.net/pubs/oh/Online_Harassment_2016.pdf
http://cdeacf.ca/boite-outils-cyberintimidation
https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/protecting-information-from-doxing/
Joint statement: Ceasefire now, end the siege, for a just and lasting peace
Iranian Canadian Congress is proud to join with a broad and representative group of pan-Canadian organizations that is raising our voices together for an immediate ceasefire to the escalating violence in Israel-Palestine and for the urgent restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza and access to the basic necessities of life. We are among the leading pan-Canadian labour, faith, community, civil society, peace and justice organizations in Canada and Quebec.
You can read our joint statement here.
Le texte en français suit.
Ceasefire now, end the siege, for a just and lasting peace
Issued on Saturday, October 21, 2023
People in Canada are watching in horror as the violence in Israel-Palestine has escalated towards an all-out war.
On Tuesday, the bombing of the Anglican Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City killed hundreds of people, most of them children. Over 5,000 people had been sheltering inside. This is an atrocity.
Since October 7, thousands have been killed following Hamas’ attack and the Israeli government’s response.
We unequivocally condemn the targeting of innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians.
As representatives of leading pan-Canadian labour, faith, Arab, Jewish, and civil society organizations, we are calling on the Government of Canada to take these steps:
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Call for an immediate ceasefire in Israel-Palestine
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Call for an end to the blockade of Gaza and for the restoration of humanitarian aid and access to the basic necessities of life
We endorse the Canadian government’s call for humanitarian aid to Gaza and the safe return of hostages. These demands cannot be meaningfully addressed without an immediate ceasefire and while Israel's blockade of Gaza continues.
Gaza is facing a “complete siege” as food, water, electricity, and fuel have been cut off. Gaza’s last functioning seawater desalination plant shut down on Sunday after running out of fuel. Water and sanitation services have collapsed in the wake of widespread bombing.
UN shelters have also run out of water and hospital workers are warning that thousands more civilians could die if access to water, fuel, and medicine is not restored.
The already dire humanitarian crisis is rapidly deteriorating.
The Israeli government’s order to a million Gazans to evacuate to the south–an impossible feat in 24 hours–suggests that a ground war and intensifying bombing are imminent.
Our most urgent task is preventing the further loss of life and an even greater humanitarian disaster than what we have already witnessed in Gaza. An all-out war would bring catastrophe to the entire region.
As hostilities escalate, they are fuelling a rise of Anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism in Canada–which we also unequivocally condemn.
Beyond these immediate steps, the world must support efforts for a just and lasting peace in Israel-Palestine and address the root cause of the violence: Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory.
Palestinians, Israelis, and all people in the region deserve to live in peace and security and with justice for all.
Signatories:
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350 Canada
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Academic Foundation for Peace-Conflict Studies (AFPCS)
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Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of British Columbia (AMSSA)
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Alter Acadie, New Brunswick
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Alternatives
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Arab Canadian Lawyers Association
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ArtHouseTO
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Asian Canadian Labour Alliance - British Columbia
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Asian Canadian Labour Alliance - Ontario
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Asian Canadian Women Alliance
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Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians
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Association of United Ukrainian Canadians
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Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI)
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Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network
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Aura Freedom International
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Black Lives Matter - Canada
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Bridges Not Borders / Créons des ponts
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Canada Social Work Students Collective for Palestine
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Canada Stand Up for Palestinian Children’s Rights
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Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID) / L’association canadienne d’études du développement international (ACÉDI)
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Canadian Boat to Gaza
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Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
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Canadian Council for Refugees / Conseil canadien pour les réfugiés
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Canadian Freelance Union / Le Syndicat canadien des pigistes (CLU)
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Canadian Friends of Sabeel
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Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)
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Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR)
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Canadian Palestinian Professional Foundation
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Canadian Palestinian Social Association of London
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Canadian Union of Postal Workers / Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses des postes
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Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) / Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (SCFP)
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Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario / Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (SCFP) Ontario
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Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
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Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
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Center for Human Rights Research, University of Manitoba
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Centre international de solidarité ouvrière (CISO)
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Centre justice et foi
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Child Care Now / Un enfant Une place
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Citizen Rights Movement (CRM)
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Climate Emergency Unit
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Climate Justice Edmonton
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Coalition of Canadian Palestinian Organizations
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Coalition of Child Care Advocates of British Columbia
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Conscience Canada
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Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain CSN
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Conseil régional Montréal métropolitain FTQ
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Council of Canadians - Campbell River
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Council of Canadians - Edmonton
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Council of Canadians - Fredericton
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Council of Canadians - Hamilton
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Council of Canadians - Kitchener-Waterloo
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Council of Canadians - London
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Council of Canadians - Mid-Island - Nanaimo
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Council of Canadians - Powell River
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Council of Canadians - Saskatoon
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Council of Canadians - Victoria
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Dogwood
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Egyptian Canadian Collation for Democracy (ECCD)
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Equality Fund / Fonds égalité
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Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
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Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE)
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Femmes de diverses origines / Women of diverse origins
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Femmes en Mouvement du Québec
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Filipinas of HamOnt
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Fondation Béati / Béati Foundation
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Fondation Oscar Romero
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Force of Nature
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Foyer du Monde / Home of the World
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Fredericton Palestine Solidarity
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Fridays for Future Manitoba
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Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU)
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Good To Be Good
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Health Providers Against Poverty
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Hearing Palestine
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House of PainT
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Human Concern International
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Humanité & Inclusion Canada
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Independent Jewish Voices Canada
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Inspirit Foundation
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International Coalition For Human Rights in the Philippines Canada
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Iranian Canadian Congress
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Jesuit Refugee Service Canada
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Jewish Faculty Network
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Justice for All Canada
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Kairos Halifax
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Kairos SWO
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Kamloops Islamic Association
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L’Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada
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La Maison Turquoise
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Law Union of Ontario
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Le Centre de réfugiés / The Refugee Centre
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Le CIBLES - Carrefour international bas-laurentien pour l'engagement social
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Le Mouvement d'éducation populaire et d'action communautaire du Québec (MÉPACQ)
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Living Skies Regional Council, The United Church of Canada
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Maquila Solidarity Network
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Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax
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Médecins du Monde Canada / Doctors of the World Canada
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Middle Eastern Society of the University of New Brunswick
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Migrant Workers Centre of British Columbia
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Montréal pour la paix
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Montréal pour un monde sans guerre
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Mothers for World Peace
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Mouvement québécois pour la paix
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National Council of Canadian Muslims
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National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)
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New Brunswick Common Front for Social Justice / Front commun pour la justice sociale du Nouveau-Brunswick
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Oblates Franciscaines de Saint-Joseph
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On Canada Project Inc.
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Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH)
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Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
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Ottawa Forum Israel Palestine
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Oxfam Canada
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Oxfam Québec
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PalNet Pacific Mountain
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PalNet Shining Waters
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Pastorale sociale de Côte-des-Neiges
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Pastorale sociale de Rosemont
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People for Peace, London
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Photographers Without Borders
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Point Blank
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Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) / L'institut professionnel de la fonction publique du Canada (IPFPC)
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Progress Belleville
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Progress Toronto
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Public Service Alliance of Canada / L’Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada
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Rainbow Refugee Society
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Refugee Health YYC
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Regina Peace Council
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Regroupement intersectoriel des organismes communautaires de Montréal
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Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal, Social Action Office
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Run for Palestine
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Save the Children Canada
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Science for Peace
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Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Toronto
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Soeurs Auxiliatrices, Québec
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Sojourn House
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South Asian Legal Clinic of British Columbia
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South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario
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Sustainable Human Empowerment (SHE) Associates Inc.
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Syndicat des enseignantes et enseignants du cégep Montmorency
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Syndicats des travailleuses et des travailleurs de la CSN
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Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes (TCRI)
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Table ronde des organismes volontaires d’éducation populaire de l’Outaouais
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The United Church of Canada
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Toronto Artists for Palestine
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Toronto Quakers Peace and Social Action Committee
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Unifor
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United Jewish People’s Order
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United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel
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Urban Alliance on Race Relations
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Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees
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Victoria Peace Coalition
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Victoria Raging Grannies
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Wilderness Committee
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Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism
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Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
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Women’s Shelters Canada / Hébergement femmes Canada
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World Beyond War
انتشار هشتمین شماره خبرنامه کنگره ایرانیان کانادا
(برای مشاهده خبرنامه روی عکس کلیک نمایید)