By Anna Mehler Paperny
TORONTO (Reuters) – A United Nations-affiliated physique is reviewing allegations Canada’s human rights fee discriminated in opposition to Black and different workers and disproportionately dismissed race-based complaints, a transfer that would hinder Canada’s capability to take part in U.N. human rights proceedings.
In a report printed Friday, the International Alliance of Nationwide Human Rights Establishments – which accredits nationwide human rights our bodies based on internationally agreed-upon ideas – stated it’s launching a particular overview of the Canadian Human Rights Fee, which handles human rights complaints in opposition to Canada’s federal authorities, amongst different issues.
The report cites findings of systemic racial discrimination inside the fee by Canada’s Senate and its Treasury Board Secretariat. These included greater dismissal charges of race-based complaints it receives and excluding Black workers and workers of color from promotions.
The human rights alliance didn’t reply to emailed questions Monday. The Canadian authorities and the human rights fee didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
The fee’s mandate consists of screening discrimination complaints, mediating some complaints, representing the general public curiosity in litigation, conducting analysis and tabling particular studies in parliament.
In line with its web site the fee was granted “A” standing first in 1999 and once more in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2023.
If the alliance downgrades Canada to “B” standing, the nation would not have impartial participation rights on the UN Human Rights Council, based on the Black Class Motion Secretariat, which filed the grievance citing the findings of systemic discrimination with the worldwide physique in February.
“A downgrade from A to B would be catastrophic for Canada’s participation in the international community. They would have to sit on the sidelines,” Black Class Motion Secretariat’s Government Director Nicholas Marcus Thompson instructed reporters Monday.
“With this international review, the Canadian government is now on notice: It cannot claim to be a global leader in human rights while discriminating against its own right here at home.”
