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.

Ten 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.

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.

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

The public session will occur in Montreal, Quebec, May 25-29, 2026. It will feature testimonies, arguments, and deliberations that will inform the Tribunal’s advisory opinion and findings. The public session will be livestreamed.

For more information, please visit the official website at our-truths.com