The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights is hosting a Youth-Led Forum on Digital Safety and Bill C-63 from April 25 to 27, 2025, at the Ortona Arts Hub in Edmonton, Alberta, with virtual participation available via Zoom. The event aims to empower young Canadians aged 18–30 to engage in shaping digital policy and advocating for safer online environments.
A highlight of the forum is a youth-led panel organized by Canada Confesses, scheduled for April 25 at 5 PM MT. This panel will feature five young leaders—Nancy Tangon, Hammad Khan, Gina Malaba, Stephanie O, and Ellen Tam—who will share their insights on youth engagement in policy-making and strategies for creating safer online spaces with Irum Khan, editor of online news portal Chase Ottawa.LinkedIn+1Instagram+1.
Participants will have the opportunity to develop advocacy skills, learn about online harm reduction, digital literacy, and human rights, and connect with policymakers and fellow youth leaders. The forum will feature arts-based advocacy, storytelling, and interactive discussions to foster creative approaches to digital safety.
This initiative builds upon the Centre’s ongoing efforts to address online harms through community-based research and youth engagement. In January 2025, the Centre released a briefing note highlighting gaps in Bill C-63, such as limited youth inclusion, insufficient definitions of hate, and inadequate victim support mechanisms. Recommendations included establishing youth-friendly consultation processes, expanding definitions to encompass socio-economic discrimination, and integrating comprehensive digital literacy education .
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