What is the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal?

The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) is an independent, international opinion tribunal that investigates human rights violations on a global stage. Since 1979, the PPT has held over 50 sessions worldwide, allowing Survivors, families, advocates, and communities to be heard when other institutions have failed them.

Why do we need a Tribunal in Canada?

Nine years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued 94 Calls to Action after investigating the residential school system. Most remain unimplemented, while the recent discoveries of unmarked graves highlight the ongoing legacy of abuse, cultural erasure, and violence against Indigenous communities. The Tribunal will create a platform for global scrutiny of alleged crimes committed when Canada’s legal institutions failed to act.

Press Release

FAQ

  • Through an independent, impartial investigation led by a panel of 11 experts, the PPT holds public hearings where testimonies from survivors, witnesses, and experts are presented. Defendants are also invited to present their evidence and arguments. After the public hearings, the judges will review the evidence and issue a final judgment and advisory opinion.

  • The PPT’s framework is rooted in the Universal Declaration of Peoples Rights adopted in Algier in 1976. Acting outside the formal judicial system, the PPT is a powerful grassroots tool that amplifies voices where other institutions, including those of governments like Canada’s, have fallen short. While its rulings are not legally binding, they carry significant moral and political weight, drawing attention to injustices often ignored by state institutions and influence future developments of international law.

  • In 2024, the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal (NWSM) and Amnistie internationale Canada francophone (AICF) submitted a request to the PPT to investigate the alleged crimes committed against Indigenous children in Canada’s residential schools. NWSM and ACIF are leading the urgent international call for accountability and building a lasting global record of evidence.

  • Previous PPT sessions have significantly influenced awareness and advocacy efforts of international human rights violations by creating a venue for Survivors, families, and communities to be heard. They have also contributed to academic discourse, shaped international law, and moved advocacy efforts forward.

  • The public session will occur in Montreal, Quebec, in early 2026. It will feature testimonies, arguments, and deliberations that will inform the Tribunal’s advisory opinion and findings. The public session will be livestreamed.

  • The Native Women Shelter of Montreal and Amnistie internationale Canada Francophone are currently in the information-gathering stage, working to engage Survivors, families, legal experts, historians, and advocates.

    As developments occur, announcements will be made regarding the Tribunal’s structure, appointments, and independent evidence-gathering processes.

  • If you are interested in supporting the PPT, please contact us. info@our-truths.com

  • The PPT is a grassroots initiative made possible by your donations. If you would like to contribute to the PPT, please contact us. info@our-truths.com

  • If you are a reporter with a media outlet or publication, please reach out to media@emdashagency.ca

Contact us.

info@our-truths.com