A different conversation about human rights
Canadian Human Rights Commission’s conference in Ottawa
September 27, 2017 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Human Rights Commission
Today, at Ottawa’s Shaw Centre, the Canadian Human Rights Commission is hosting the Beyond Labels 2017 Human Rights Symposium.
In timing with the 40th anniversary of the Canadian Human Rights Act this past July, the Commission set out to create a conference that not only celebrates 40 years of human rights progress in Canada, but that looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities of the next 40 years.
Specifically, the goal is to challenge Canada’s fundamental approach to promoting and protecting human rights in Canada.
“So much of our human rights discourse, including our legislation, is built around various identifiers or labels—your race, your religion, your disability,” said Chief Commissioner, Marie-Claude Landry. “Some people find these sorts of labels empowering, while others feel labels have become burdens, barriers, and sources of division. So we want to throw the concept of labels into question and see what happens. We want this to be a different conversation about human rights.”
Keynote speakers at various events for the Beyond Labels Symposium will include: Minister of Justice, The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould; Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, The Honourable Kent Hehr; Matt DeCourcey, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2I Issues, Randy Boissonnault,M.P.; President and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Louise Bradley; Ambassador of Reconciliation Canada, Chief Dr. Robert Joseph; as well as Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Marie-Claude Landry.
Quotes
“So much of our human rights discourse, including our legislation, is built around various identifiers or labels—your race, your religion, your disability.” —Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E., Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission
“Some people find these sorts of labels empowering, while others feel labels have become burdens, barriers, and sources of division. So we want to throw the concept of labels into question and see what happens. We want this to be a different conversation about human rights.” —Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E., Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission
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Associated Links
- CHRC Video: “Do Labels Matter?” with Aaron H. Devor - Research Chair, Transgender Studies, University of Victoria
- CHRC Video: “Do Labels Matter?”with Chief Dr. Robert Joseph - Ambassador for Reconciliation Canada
- CHRC Video: “Do Labels Matter?” with Roxana Jahani Aval - National Education Association of Disabled Students
Media Contacts
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