Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association

The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) is a non-partisan, voluntary non-profit research and educational organization based in Ottawa, ON, dedicated to advancing civil liberties and human rights for Ukrainians in Canada and abroad. Since its establishment in 1984, UCCLA has maintained a steadfast commitment to defending the rights and interests of the Ukrainian Canadian community through comprehensive advocacy, historical research, and public education initiatives.

UCCLA's work encompasses multiple critical areas of civil liberties protection and community advocacy. The organization has been instrumental in documenting and raising awareness about Canada's first national internment operations (1914-1920), during which Ukrainian Canadians were unjustly detained as "enemy aliens." Through decades of dedicated advocacy, UCCLA has successfully negotiated the Ukrainian Canadian Redress Settlement Agreement and installed dozens of historical markers and statues across Canada to commemorate this significant chapter in Canadian history. The organization continues to champion legislative initiatives, including Bill C-331, The Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act, ensuring historical recognition and restitution for affected communities.

Beyond historical redress, UCCLA actively engages in contemporary civil liberties issues affecting Ukrainian Canadians, including media representation, multiculturalism policy, and international human rights concerns. The organization has launched major international campaigns addressing historical injustices, including exposing media misrepresentation of the Holodomor and advocating for comprehensive recognition of genocide in Canadian institutions. Operating from Ottawa, Ontario, UCCLA serves as the authoritative voice for Ukrainian Canadian civil rights, combining rigorous research with strategic advocacy to protect and promote the community's interests in the Canadian public sphere.