We, the undersigned human rights and civil society organizations, write to express our support for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), its leadership, and the curatorial independence that is essential to the integrity of all public museums.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights was established to advance understanding of human rights through education and dialogue. That mission depends on the freedom to present complex histories honestly, thoughtfully, and without political interference.
The opening of Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present marks an important contribution to public understanding in Canada about a history that has profoundly shaped the lives of Palestinian Canadians as well as millions of Palestinians globally. As publicly funded institutions governed by the public interest, museums dedicated to human rights have a responsibility to confront difficult, contested, and often painful histories. This exhibition reflects that responsibility.
Since its opening, the exhibition has been the subject of organized campaigns calling for political intervention, public condemnation, and institutional consequences for the museum and its leadership, including against its CEO, Isha Khan. We are deeply concerned by efforts to pressure the CMHR to alter, discredit, or distance itself from a professionally curated exhibition through political and public pressure rather than through established scholarly and curatorial processes.
We are particularly concerned that calls for political intervention have, in some instances, extended beyond public advocacy into commentary from elected officials regarding the content of the exhibition. Regardless of the issue at hand, political leaders should respect the independence of Canada’s public museums and refrain from influencing or appearing to influence curatorial decisions.
The principles at stake extend well beyond this exhibition and are fundamental to the independence of all public museums. We urge elected officials, community leaders, and the public to respect the CMHR’s institutional independence. We also express our appreciation to the museum staff, leadership, advisory members, and all those who contributed their expertise and lived experience to this exhibition.
We call on the museum to remain steadfast in its commitment to independent, evidence-based curation and encourage all Canadians to engage with and visit the exhibition in the spirit of learning, reflection, and respectful dialogue.
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Curatorial independence is essential to the ability of public museums to present difficult and contested histories. Help demonstrate broad public support for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the independence of Canada’s cultural institutions.
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Signatories
- Independent Jewish Voices
- Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
- Jewish Faculty Network
- Palestinian Canadian Congress
- United Jewish People’s Order
- Union of National Employees
- Visual Arts Alliance
- Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
- Alberta Federation of Labour
- Canadian Union of Postal Workers
- Amnesty International Canada (English speaking)
- Amnistie internationale Canada (francophone)
- Oxfam Canada
- Oxfam-Québec
- British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
- Common Frontiers
- Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation
- National Council of Canadian Muslims
- Kairos – Canada
- United Church of Canada
- The Presbyterian Church in Canada
- John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights
- Association of Canadians for a Civil Society
- Workers’ Education and Rights Collective (WERC)
- Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities (ECMC)
- Rabbis for Ceasefire
- Leadnow
- Centre for Human Rights Research
- Toronto Jewish Families
- Toronto Palestinian Families
- Prairie to Pine Regional Council, United Church of Canada
- Canadian Friends Service Committee
- Canadian Alliance for Solidarity with Ukraine
- Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians
- Islamic Social Services Association
- Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council
- Arab Canadian Lawyers Association
- Toronto World Beyond War
- Jews for Tikkun Olam: Jewish Social Workers, Therapists & Spiritual Leaders for Social Justice & Palestinian Liberation
- Mennonite Church of Canada, Palestine-Israel Network
- IfNotNow Toronto
- Jews Say No to Genocide
- Ottawa Forum on Israel Palestine
- Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba
- Justice 48
- Just Peace Advocates
- Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land
- Justice for All Canada
- Halifax Refugee Clinic
- Association for the Rights of Household and Farm Workers
- C-Space Group Conflict Resolution
- Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU)
- Maquila Solidarity Network
- Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims
- United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine/Israel (UNJPPI)
- Rights Action
- Palestine House – Toronto
- Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic
- Palestine Solidarity – St Johns
- Planned Parenthood Toronto
- Canadian Friends of Standing Together
- JusticeTrans
- Jewish Psychologists for Justice
- PEERS Alliance
- Pivot Legal Society
- Canadian Friends of Sabeel
- Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
- Righting Relations
- Breaking the Silence Maritimes Guatemala Network
- Paramedics For Palestine
- Canadian Muslims for Palestine
- Mennonite Action Canada
- Teachers 4 Palestine Saskatchewan
- Moms of Anarchy
- Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change
- Palestinian Youth Movement Canada
- Palestinian House Association
- The Oakville Gaza Peace Group
- IslamicFamily
- Mutual Aid Society Winnipeg Inc.
- The Legal Clinic
- Manitoba Friends of Standing Together
- IJV Winnipeg
- CJPME Saskatoon