The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention will conduct an official visit to Canada, from 13 to 24 May 2024, to assess the situation regarding deprivation of liberty in the country.
The delegation – comprising three members of the group, Matthew Gillett, Ganna Yudkivska, and Priya Gopalan – will visit the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta. They will meet Government officials, civil society groups and other relevant stakeholders during the visit.
The experts will also gather information from places where people are deprived of their liberty, including prisons, police stations and institutions for juveniles, migrants and people with psychosocial disabilities.
The Working Group will share its preliminary observations at a press conference on 24 May 2024 at 1pm local time, at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent Street, Ottawa ON K1P 5R7. The press conference will be held in hybrid format. Access will be strictly limited to journalists.
The Working Group will present its final report on the visit to the Human Rights Council in September 2025.
