Our Programs
MJDC’s programs address the root causes of injustice facing migrant communities, linking direct service to broader advocacy, research, and systemic reform. Each program is grounded in human rights principles and shaped by the lived experiences of those most affected.
View Our Programs
Explore the range of services we offer.
Access to justice program and Legal Empowerment
This program bridges the gap between marginalized individuals and the justice system. We equip communities with legal literacy, provide training to frontline organizations, and collaborate on legal reforms that remove barriers to justice.
Access to Justice at MJDC is more than a legal service, it is a human right and a pathway to dignity for migrant workers, refugees, and underserved communities across Canada. Rooted in the principles of fairness, equality, and empowerment, this program offers tailored legal information, referrals, and advocacy to individuals facing systemic barriers, exploitation, or abuse. Whether it’s recovering stolen wages, challenging unsafe working conditions, or navigating immigration processes, MJDC ensures that vulnerable populations are not left behind in their pursuit of justice.
In alignment with Ontario’s Access to Justice vision and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (endorsed by John Ruggie), MJDC addresses both individual grievances and structural injustice. Our work holds corporate and institutional actors accountable, promotes transparency, and empowers communities through education and policy advocacy. Donors and funders will find a trusted partner in MJDC, an organization delivering real impact on the ground while also engaging meaningfully in the global conversation around human rights, corporate responsibility, and justice reform. Together, we are making justice accessible, not just as a legal outcome, but as a lived reality.
Research, Documentation & Impact Monitoring
At MJDC, research is the backbone of our advocacy. We believe that effective change must be rooted in evidence, and we are committed to documenting the lived realities of migrant workers, racialized communities, and other marginalized groups affected by injustice and exploitation.
Our Research, Documentation & Impact Monitoring Program focuses on:
· Collecting first-hand data and testimonies on rights violations, including wage theft, unsafe working conditions, discrimination, and trafficking.
· Conducting legal and policy research to support strategic litigation, policy advocacy, and public education campaigns;
· Publishing reports, submissions, and position papers to influence national and international decision-makers (including UN bodies and parliamentary committees);
· Monitoring the impact of our programs and services to ensure accountability, learning, and continuous improvement;
· Partnering with academic institutions, legal clinics, and community-based researchers to produce credible, community-centered knowledge.
This program ensures that MJDC’s interventions are data-informed, people-centered, and grounded in justice. Through rigorous documentation and monitoring, we amplify the voices of those most affected and push for evidence-based reforms that deliver real impact.
Climate and Environmental Justice
MJDC recognizes the urgent link between environmental degradation, climate change, and forced displacement. Climate-related disasters and ecological destruction disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including migrants, racialized communities, and low-income workers. In response, MJDC advocates for climate and environmental justice grounded in human rights.
Our program works to:
· Raise awareness of the invisible crisis of climate-induced migration, both within and across borders;
· Promote just and inclusive environmental policies that protect the rights of displaced individuals and frontline communities;
· Advocate for legal recognition and protection of climate refugees at national and international levels;
· Collaborate with partners to support green transition efforts that include migrant and low-income workers;
· Conduct research and education on the environmental impacts of corporate exploitation, especially in agriculture, resource extraction, and industrial sectors employing migrant labor.
Through strategic litigation, policy engagement, and grassroots mobilization, MJDC works to ensure that environmental justice includes social, racial, and economic equity, so that no one is left behind in the face of a changing climate.
Access to Justice and Legal Empowerment
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Women and Gender Justice
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Climate Justice and Environmental Migration
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Ending Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking
We promote the protection of migrant and temporary foreign workers through legal advocacy, rights awareness campaigns, and accountability mechanisms targeting exploitative practices in agriculture, care work, construction, and food processing.
We work to eradicate forced labor and trafficking through prevention campaigns, survivor support, and legal action. MJDC promotes policy changes, raises public awareness, and partners with justice actors to end modern slavery in all its forms.
Corporate Accountability and Business & Human Rights
MJDC challenges harmful corporate practices and promotes ethical governance in global supply chains. We support legal actions, policy reform, and corporate engagement to prevent labor abuses, environmental damage, and human rights violations linked to business activity.
Effective regulation of corporations is essential to protect workers, communities, and our planet from abuse and exploitation. The Migrants Justice and Development Coalition (MJDC) fully supports the development of a legally binding international treaty to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and ensure they are held accountable for human rights violations.
Since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in 2011, there has been growing recognition of the need for stronger, enforceable frameworks. The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights has made critical strides in promoting corporate responsibility, and the push toward a Binding Treaty—launched in 2014 and now in its third revised draft is a crucial next step.
Equity, Anti-Discrimination & Gender Justice
We focus on the unique challenges facing migrant women and gender-diverse individuals supporting survivors of violence, advocating for reproductive and housing rights, and ensuring gender equity in migration policies and services.
In addition, we also address issues of hate crime, namely:
Systemic racism and xenophobia through community empowerment, anti-discrimination advocacy, and campaigns promoting inclusive access to housing, education, public services, and fair treatment under the law.
What MJDC’s role
Advocating for Canada’s active engagement in the Binding Treaty process and supporting regional mechanisms that align with the UNGPs and treaty goals.
🔹 Raising awareness among migrants, workers, and racialized communities in Canada and abroad about their rights under international business and human rights frameworks.
🔹 Monitoring corporate actors and supply chains, especially in agriculture, construction, and extractive industries, where migrant workers are at risk of exploitation.
🔹 Engaging in coalition-building and policy dialogue with human rights organizations, unions, investors, and civil society to pressure governments to support the treaty and enforce due diligence laws.
🔹 Documenting and reporting cases of corporate-related abuse, particularly involving racial discrimination, unsafe working conditions, or environmental harm affecting migrant communities.
MJDC’s Commitment
MJDC is committed to advancing legally binding accountability for corporate actors through international law, national legislation, and grassroots action. We believe that voluntary principles are not enough. Justice requires laws, monitoring, and real consequences.
As part of our mission, MJDC will continue to work alongside global partners and civil society to make the UN Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights a reality—ensuring that businesses respect, protect, and fulfill human rights, wherever they operate.
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Join Us
At MJDC, we believe that lasting change is built through collective action. Whether you’re a passionate advocate, a legal professional, a student, or simply someone who believes in justice—there’s a place for you in our movement. Join us in defending human rights, advancing equity, and transforming lives.