Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights
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Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) is a non-profit, student-based organization that advocates on a strong social justice platform to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people. The group is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and gained a wide profile after inciting a riot and forcing the Israeli ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Concordia University to cancel a speech that was to take place on 9 September 2002 [1].
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[edit] A brief of SPHR history
SPHR was established in 1999 as a result of a merger between two student organizations based at Concordia University and McGill University in Montreal; the Concordia Centre for Palestinian Human Rights (CCPHR) and the McGill Palestinian Solidarity Committee (PSC). It was after a three month long discussion that the two boards decided to merge and to consolidate their resources to the furthering of the Palestinian struggle for human rights. Having noticed a certain vacuum in the Canadian solidarity movement, the members wanted to create a unique and independent organization which would be able to promote the Palestinian struggle in all of its aspects. Their logic was that they wanted to create an organization which would have enough credibility to be able to appeal to the general public without compromising basic human right principles and facts surrounding the Palestinian plight.
[edit] SPHR head office
In 2001, following an increase in membership and in activities, founding branches decided to establish a structure in charge of acting as a liaison and resource centre for the various campus branches. This structure was to be formally known as SPHR-National. This new structure was given the responsibility to expand and promote the establishment of SPHRs all across Canada. It also received the mandate to act as a lobby and mobilizing group advocating for Palestinian human rights at both the provincial and federal levels. Moreover, SPHR-National acts as a support structure for branches needing help within their university and student union structures.
[edit] SPHR branches
Currently, SPHR has branches in 13 university campuses in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia in the following universities: Concordia University, McGill University, Université de Montréal, UQAM, University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Queen's University, University of Toronto, University of Toronto at Mississauga, McMaster University, and University of British Columbia.
