Peel Regional Police and Collaborators Receive International Award for Human Rights Leadership

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Region of Peel – Peel Regional Police has received the 2026 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Leadership in Human and Civil Rights Award, a distinguished policing honour that recognizes the Service and its collaborators for their leadership in addressing systemic racism through the Human Rights Project.

Peel Regional Police received recognition for this collaborative project developed with the Peel Police Service Board, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), and the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee (ARAC) to address systemic barriers and gaps, strengthen accountability, and build trust with Peel Region’s racialized communities.

Open to law enforcement agencies worldwide, the annual award recognizes police organizations, which work with communities to demonstrate leadership in protecting human and civil rights through innovative policies, collaboration and policing practices.

The Human Rights Project

Launched in 2020, the Human Rights Project is a collaborative initiative involving the Service, the Board, the OHRC, and ARAC. The project aims to implement community-based recommendations to identify and eliminate systemic discrimination in policing, with the overall goal being how police can uphold human rights and better serve one of Canada’s most diverse regions.

ARAC serves as the community voice of the project. Comprised of residents and community leaders from Brampton and Mississauga, the committee helps guide implementation of recommendations aimed at advancing fair, equitable, and accountable policing throughout Peel Region. The project is further informed by the expertise of Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto, and his analysis of race- and identity-based data.

Key areas of focus include:

Strengthening accountability and transparency.
Embedding human rights principles into policing practices.
Advancing anti-racism and community engagement.
Partnering with ARAC to provide community guidance and accountability.
Reducing harm through de-escalation and human rights-focused training.
Using race- and identity-based data to inform policy and organizational change.
Embarking on a sustainable multi-year action plan to achieve these goals.

Recommendations, Results and Impact

In 2023, the Service, Board and the OHRC released initial recommendations aimed at addressing systemic racism, strengthening community relationships, enhancing accountability, and improving outcome for vulnerable populations.

To date, Peel Regional Police has:

Completed more than 50,000 hours of human rights-focused training.
Reviewed more than 300 policies and directives to align with human rights standards and OHRC recommendations.
Increased representation among sworn members from under-represented groups from approximately 45 per cent in 2020 to more than 65 per cent in 2025.
Achieved a 100 per cent reduction in firearm discharges between 2019 and 2024.
Reduced police service dog deployments by 81 per cent.
Recorded zero loss of life outcomes in use of force incidents between 2020 and 2025.

Strengthening Accountability

In August 2026, the three parties signed a first-of-its-kind Binding Arbitration Agreement establishing an independent process to support the implementation of the project’s recommendations.

The agreement creates a framework for independent oversight, including the selection of an independent verifier supported by the community-based Anti-Racism Advisory Committee. It represents an innovative model for police accountability in Canada and shared commitment to human rights, transparency, and meaningful reform.

Continuing Meaningful Work

While significant progress has been made, this work continues. Serving one of Canada's most diverse communities, where more than 68 per cent of residents identify as racialized and 43 per cent are newcomers to Canada, Peel Regional Police remains committed to advancing human rights, strengthening public trust, and building on this work as a leader in human rights-centred policing.

QUOTES

“This international recognition reflects the meaningful work undertaken with our partners to drive lasting change. To be recognized among police agencies from around the world is a significant honour and reinforces our commitment and leadership in building trust and confidence with the communities we serve.”

— Chief Nishan Duraiappah, Peel Regional Police

“Everyone in Peel deserves policing that respects their rights and earns their trust. The Board is proud to share this recognition with Peel Regional Police, the Ontario Human Rights Commission and our community partners. Our responsibility is to ensure these commitments lead to lasting improvements in how people experience policing.”

— Nando Iannicca, Chair, Peel Police Service Board

“This prestigious award is a testament to the power of authentic community partnerships when it comes to making systemic changes within the institution of policing. The Anti-Racism Advisory Committee congratulates the Peel Regional Police on this well-deserved award and hopes to continue our role in building a police service governed by the principles of human rights and equity for everyone in the Region of Peel.”

— Deborah Buchanan-Walford, Chair, Anti-Racism Advisory Committee

“This award recognizes the vital role of the Human Rights Project and the shared commitment to address systemic racism in policing. The recent binding arbitration agreement marks a critical step forward by establishing legally enforceable measures to ensure commitments result in meaningful accountability and lasting change for Peel Region communities. An essential element of this transformation is the proactive role of the communities.”

— Patricia DeGuire, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission

“Peel Regional Police’s Human Rights Project offers an important example of how police services can bring research, independent scrutiny and human rights principles into their everyday work. This award provides international recognition of the effort behind that approach and its potential to advance more equitable and accountable policing.”

— Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto & Peel Regional Police Independent Consultant

“The International Association of Chiefs of Police is proud to recognize Peel Regional Police, the Peel Police Service Board, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee with the 2026 IACP Leadership in Human and Civil Rights Award. Through their Human Rights Project, Peel Regional Police have demonstrated a meaningful commitment to addressing systemic barriers, strengthening accountability, and building trust through collaboration and transparency. Their work serves as a powerful example of how law enforcement and community stakeholders can come together to advance equitable, human rights-centered policing and create lasting positive change for the communities they serve.”

— David Rausch, President, International Association of Chiefs of Police