+ Human Rights

+ What is a right? Human Rights? Simply put – a legal, moral, and social claim that people are entitled to. Human Rights are the right to receive equal treatment, to be free from prohibited discrimination and harassment, and to have access to places, services, and opportunities. Discrimination is making a distinction between people and treating them differently on a basis other than individual merit. In leman’s terms – when someone is treated unfairly because they belong to a certain group.

+ Canada... Canada has one of the strongest human rights records in the world, but there are still groups experiencing discrimination. Our Charter provides a lot of protection but it does not protect us if we are discriminated against. These protection laws are found in human rights codes. See for New Brunswick’s code. These codes tend to protect us from discrimination based on race, colour, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, mental/physical disability, and marital status. What groups do you feel are still experiencing discrimination?

+ Terminology Discrimination is often based on stereotyping – an oversimplified, false, or generalized portrayal of a group of people. Often the basis of many ethnic or gender jokes. Believing stereotypes can lead to prejudice – a preconceived opinion. A prejudice individual judges someone according to the group they belong to without taking into account individual qualities or abilities. When someone’s behaviour toward another person is based on stereotypes and prejudices, the result is discrimination – discrimination is putting prejudice to work.

+ Legislation There is little that the law can do to prevent stereotypes and prejudice from happening but the law can prevent someone from acting on these views. Human Rights Legislation is used to correct and prevent the injustice of discrimination. Provincial Human Rights Codes are subject to the Charter. If a part of the code violates the Charter a claim could be struck down. Canadian Human Rights Act – see opening paragraph on page 112. Passed in 1977 and applies to all federal government departments. Also covers issues such as hate messages and pay equity.