Human Rights – Page 17

2014/05/152014/05/16

May 17 – Int’l Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia

by Kate Hart

Since 2005, May 17 has been dedicated to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The date marks the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

It was originally called the International Day Against Homophobia; a day intended to broaden awareness of the discrimination, violence and persecution experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people around the world.

In 2009, following increased recognition that trans communities experienced aggravated forms of gender-based violence with distinct patterns different from homophobia, the name evolved to its current form: the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

In just a decade, this movement has spread worldwide; there are events are taking place in over 120 countries this year.

Wonderful work – but we have miles to go before we sleep. Being LGBT is still illegal in over 80 countries.

Can you even imagine what it would be like for your very existence to be declared illegal? Something you have no control over – just for being born that way, you are illegal.

This is a daily reality for the LGBT community in those countries, which represent over 40% of the world’s population.

How about sitting on death row because you dared to love? Ten countries still consider being LGBT a crime punishable by death! For daring to love. For daring to express that love for another human being.

Somehow, I suspect that this wouldn’t stand if the persecution was of heterosexual people; I’m certain that governments of the world would see this as a much bigger problem.

So, here is my challenge to all of you: get off your butts and help change this deplorable situation. Start lobbying your MPs to tie foreign aid funding to human rights. Start a letter campaign to every MP in this country telling them this is unacceptable – that we, as Canadians, should be leading the world on human rights issues like this. Join the rallies and celebrations of this day in your community and show your support.

Help stop the hate.

Help end the killing and persecution of a segment of society whose only crime was being born the way they are.

Kate Hart is the Union of National Employees’ national equity representative for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. This article was written as part of our union’s member journalism program. If you’d like to find out more, click here – to pitch a story or for any questions, please send an email to communications@une-sen.org.

2014/05/06

Raising the bars

The pride flag will be flown above the Gaspé town hall this month, thanks to the actions of one dedicated human rights activist.

Géraldine Fortin, our human rights representative for the Quebec region, approached her town’s mayor last week to convince him to recognize May 17: the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

“I didn’t have to do a lot of convincing,” admits Fortin. “I had all my arguments ready – I didn’t need to use any.”

“It went really well. They were very open to the idea.”

This won’t be the first time that the town of Gaspé will make a statement in favour of free expression. During the most recent winter Olympics, Gapsé’s city hall was among countless others across the country that flew the pride flag in opposition to Russia’s draconian anti-gay laws.

For a town of just over 15,000 people, it’s a very powerful statement.

“It sends a message about openness to diversity,” says Fortin.

But this time, a UNE member will be the one hoisting the flag. That’s right; the mayor is delegating the honour to Fortin.

“I’m going to wear a shirt sporting the UNE logo,” said Fortin, proudly.

With May 17 fast approaching, Fortin is daring other members to do something similar in their communities.

“I’m sure there are similar actions that can be done,” said Fortin. “I’m sure I’m not the only one who lives in a small community.”

If you take up Géraldine Fortin’s challenge, please let us know by sending us an email.

In this photo: Daniel Côté, Gaspé mayor; Manon Minville, Local 10040; and Géraldine Fortin, human rights representative, Quebec.

2014/04/292014/04/24

Asian Heritage Month

When we wrote about Asian Heritage Month last year, we focused on the difficulties faced by Chinese immigrants between confederation and the early 1920s. But the end of the Chinese Head Tax didn’t mark the end of discriminatory policies.

Japanese immigrants began arriving in Canada in the 1870s in search of a better life. Like their Chinese counterparts, they had to contend with fervently anti-Asian attitudes in British Columbia.

But those attitudes grew even worse during World War 2. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King declared war on Imperial Japan.

Only days later, 1,975 Canadian soldiers surrendered to the Japanese during the Battle of Hong Kong. Reports of murder, cruelty and starvation of these prisoners of war “increased the fear and hatred of Canadians for their Japanese-Canadian neighbours.”¹

“Of the more than 23,000 [Japanese immigrants] in Canada at the time, over 75 per cent were Canadian Citizens. All were designated enemy aliens by government regulations.”²

It wouldn’t take long before the government mandated that all Japanese immigrants, whether naturalized citizens or Canadian-born, had to register with the Registrar of Enemy Aliens.

On January 14, 1942, Prime Minister Mackenzie King declared a large portion of the Pacific coast a “protected area”. First, a curfew was imposed requiring every person of the Japanese race to home after sunset and stay there until sunrise. If you lived in the protected area, you weren’t permitted to use or own a motor vehicle, a camera or a radio. ³

Within a few months, the government began to forcibly remove Japanese men from the protected area.

“Japanese Canadians were told to pack a single suitcase each and taken to holding areas, to wait for trains to take them inland. Vancouver’s Hastings Park was one of areas where families waited, sometimes for months, to be relocated.”

More than 20,000 Japanese were moved to remote areas of British-Columbia. The majority of those displaced were actually born Canadian citizens. A year later, all their possessions that had been seized by the federal government were liquidated.

“Even at the end of the war, King continued to bow to the most strident demands of the politicians. He offered the Japanese two choices: go back to Japan or disperse ‘east of the Rockies’.”

Many men were taken from their families and sent to work in road camps in Ontario and near the border between Alberta and British Columbia – while their wives and children were sent to camps. Families who wanted to remain together went Eastward, to Alberta and Manitoba, where they often performed back-breaking work on sugar beet farms.

In her book, Japanese Canadian Journey: the Nakagama Story, Dr. Rochelle Sato-Yamagishi writes about her family’s experience. After been uprooted from Steveston, British Columbia, her father moved to Lethbridge, Alberta, where he opened the first Albertan Japanese food store.⁴

“Similar to all the evacuees to Alberta, my father and mother endured great hardship, but characteristic of Japanese Canadians as a whole, I am struck with how they turned adversity into opportunity. They focused on getting through each day, hoping for a better life, and seemed to never allow their dream to be stolen from them.” ⁵

“I am most impressed by the fact that, despite having lost so much in Steveston, they never became bitter, as they established a new home in southern Alberta.”⁶

[1] Hickman, P. and Fukawa, M. (2011). Righting Canada’s Wrongs: Japanese Canadian Internment in the Second World War. Toronto, ON: James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers..

[2] Idem

[3] Idem

[4] Yamagishi, N. R. (2010) Japanese Canadian Journey: The Nakagama Story. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford.

[5] Idem

[6] Idem

2014/03/20

March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

by Céline Ahodékon

When I was assigned to write something on March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I had no idea of what to say until today.

Out of the blue, I remembered something that happened to one of my friends, a few years ago. I’m always surprised at how some people can judge others or deny them service based on only one characteristic. Do you know that some people can identify your race or your ethnic origin just by hearing your name or the sound of your voice?

The story I am about to tell you is a true story. However, to protect the identity of the people involved, I am using fictitious names.

A few years ago, a friend of mine was looking for an apartment to rent for his family of four; let’s call him Latif. As you may have guessed, Latif is a racially-visible man.

It was a hot and beautiful summer day when a local newspaper ad caught his attention. One particular building was offering apartments of all sizes. It was in a great location, the rent was affordable and the amenities were great!

He immediately dialed the number, introduced himself and asked if he could visit one of the three-bedroom apartments listed in the paper.

The voice on the other end of the phone paused, stammered and hesitated before answering.

“I am sorry, all the apartments are rented already; there’s no need to visit,” explained the person on the other end of the call.

Latif was surprised and shocked by what he just heard. Later, he expressed his amazement to his wife, Marie; a native of the area who speaks the local language fluently.

“It’s only 1 p.m. and all these apartments listed in the newspaper are already rented?”

Marie was puzzled and suspicious. She wondered if the landlord was telling the truth or if her husband was the victim of discrimination. She called the same place from her mobile phone, only minutes later.

Marie introduced herself using her maiden name, which is a common name in the area. She asked if there were still apartments to rent.

There were plenty.

She was quickly invited to visit them.

Marie decided to visit the apartments with Latif, her racially-visible husband, and confront the landlord. While he was very apologetic (and sweating profusely!), he offered no explanation for his attitude towards Latif. At least, in the end, he was left with big dose of lessons.

Because discrimination is subjective and can be very subtle, we will never know why the building owner didn’t want to rent an apartment to Latif, but offered one to Marie. Was Latif being discriminated or was it a mistake? Would the owner of the apartments have rented to Marie if she had introduced herself under Latif’s name when she called? There are many of unanswered questions!

This incident might be an isolated case, but incidents like this happen all too often. We all have an important role and a responsibility to build workplaces and communities that are free of racism.

Brother s and sisters, March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. I’m inviting all of us to become Marie in the story – to denounce and take action against all forms of racial discrimination.

Let’s not be silent bystanders; our silence can be hurtful.

Let’s stand and speak up for those who can’t defend themselves.

Céline Ahodekon is the Union of National Employees’ national equity representative for racially-visible people. She is also a chief steward for Local 20278, which represents members at Fort Langley National Historic Park and the Vancouver Parks office, in British Columbia.

2014/03/182014/03/18

International Francophonie Day

By Yvon Beaudoin

On this International Francophonie Day, I would like to paint a picture for you of the 9,178,100 Canadians who speak French in Canada.

At the 2013 annual meeting of the members of the FTQ’s Francization Committee, Suzanne Dionne Coster and Mariette Rainville of the Commission nationale des parents francophones presented the following overview of the health of the francophonie in the various regions of Canada. We have taken the liberty here of presenting this data as an infographic.

At first glance, one might tend to believe that the francophone community is faring well in Canada. But one look at the impact of the $5.2 billion in cutbacks announced by the Conservative government in 2012 paints another reality.

According to Claude Poirier, President of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), francophones are now being asked to write their documents in English to reduce translation costs.

Le Devoir reported that:

“According to Public Works Canada, to which the Translation Bureau reports, business volume went from $253 million in 2010–2011 to $231 million the following year, a decrease of 9%. The 2012–2013 Report on Plans and Priorities forecasts revenue of barely $191 million.”

In addition, the Conservative government is content to sit back when talks turn to official languages. In December, the Conservative government voted against two motions tabled by Yvon Godin, NPD Critic for Official Languages.

The purpose of the motions was to “have the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans appear before the Official Languages Committee to present important updates on access to justice in both official languages and on the future of the Quebec Marine Search and Rescue Centre.”

The budgetary constraints imposed by the Conservative government are a major threat to the vitality of Canada’s two official languages. Ask your member of parliament to act.

Our members should demand to work in the official language of their choice!

2014/03/05

International Women’s Day – March 8

by Hayley Millington

When I was asked to submit an article for International Women’s Day, I was excited at the prospect. Immediately, my mind started perusing numerous options. I used the opportunity to express myself in the vein I feel most comfortable: creatively.

I felt like a poem would best capture my passion over the day and the importance of having this day acknowledged and celebrated.

I
WE
SHE

Reflecting me
The women of History, Past and Present

The intertwined arms of the worldwide sisterhood
Nurturing and Protecting each nation
Sustaining all creeds and cultures

Women slain, laying bare-breasted
Suckling generations
Along grassy plains and concrete jungles

DIS-missed by governments’ regulations
BLIND-sided by society’s apathy
WAY-layed by war and disillusionment

Voices raised in earnest
Clamouring for the essentials of their irreverent sex
PEACE, SAFETY, SECURITY, INDEPENDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Straining against society’s reins
Boundaries blurred, distorted by others perceptions of gender
Survival seeping out of sisters pores, as veins bulge in anguish

And SHE, with spirit abound
Infused with the century old fights
Rises to pristine heights
Ready to lay claim to HER rights

HER stories written and retold, awaken movements
With limbs, once immobile
Now tactile and fluid

She laughs
Tears flow
Lips frown
And here SHE stands, Firmly Rooted

I
WE
SHE

Reflections of me
The women of herstory, PAST and Present

This article was written by Hayley Millington as part of our member journalism program. Hayley serves on the UNE’s human rights committee as the national equity representative for women.

2014/02/262014/02/26

Pink Shirt Day

By Steve Houston

“Then they came for me–and there was no one left to speak for me.”

– Martin Niemöller

There were times in my youth, when a kind of divine providence would step in – between me and a group of boys determined to bully me into feeling worthless.

For reasons I could not have explained at the time, there was always one boy from the approaching mob who would say “no”. In doing so, he would pluck me from the jaws of impending doom. There would be grumbling, obviously, and he might have to brush me aside for effect.

But in that miraculous moment, I would breathe again. Never looking back, I would walk away lost in what had just happened – and I would slowly begin to feel safe in the world again. The boy and I would never become friends, but knowing he existed gave me hope that things could get better.

Pink Shirt Day taps into that kind of divine providence. We wear pink on that day to say “no”. In so doing, we form a wall between LGBT youth and the bullies determined to make them feel worthless.

But while things are generally getting better in North America, it’s not the case everywhere else in the world.

Human Rights Watch has been urging Russian authorities to address widespread violence being perpetrated against LGBT people. In some of the more egregious cases, bullies have used dating sites to lure young gay men into meeting them, before forcing them to admit their homosexuality on camera and severely beating them. Not only is Russia turning a blind eye to this violence, their rhetoric is adding fuel to the fire.

It’s for this reason that, this year, the It Gets Better project asked its supporters to direct messages of love and support to the LGBT youth in Russia. The project was launched in 2010 by Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller in response to the overwhelming number of LGBT youth who choose suicide to end their pain. The movement has since gone global.

Instances like these make it all the more important for us to intervene – to protect vulnerable young people against those who wish to cause them harm.

On Wednesday, we wear pink to say we exist and, for a poignant moment, the world may feel like it’s a safer place to be – poignant moments like this flash mob of elementary school students at a Vancouver Giants hockey game.

Imagine that at Sochi…. If we all band together against violence, the future looks bright and pink.

This article was written by Steve Houston as part of our member journalism program. Steve Houston serves on the UNE’s human rights committee as the regional human rights representative for the B.C.-Yukon region.

2014/02/262018/06/18

Solving Homelessness

February 20 is Social Justice Day, and we thought it would be interesting to talk about one of the social justice issues facing many nations: the issue of homelessness. In Canada, 30,000 people are homeless on any given night; of these, over 2,800 remain unsheltered, sleeping in cars, in parks or out on the street.

Among those most at risk of homelessness are youth, aboriginal people and victims of domestic violence.

During last year’s National Conference on Ending Homelessness, Minister of State for Social Development Candice Bergen said the Harper government is “committed to working with our partners to address this complex issue.”

And that’s how homelessness is usually presented: a complex issue without an easy solution, without a 10-step plan. But could it be as simple as giving apartments to the homeless?

Well, that’s precisely what one of the most conservative states did – and they’re on track to end homelessness by 2015. In just eight years, Utah has managed to reduce homelessness by a whopping 78 %.

The program got its start in 2005, just a few years before the worst recession since the Great Depression. And yet, the program wasn’t torpedoed in the name of austerity. In fact, despite the additional challenges posed by the economic downturn, it got amazing results.

If your brain hasn’t kablooey’ed by now, you’re probably wondering how exactly this works.

“The model allows homeless citizens freedom in their use of the system. The homeless are given access to their own apartments, while the state provides job training and offer social services, including substance abuse programs, to help residents assimilate to a steady job and social life.”

To house the homeless, the state initially drew “579 [units] from existing rental inventory, 952 from refurbished structures, and 683 [from] new construction”. If the resident is able to land a steady job, 30% of their income goes back into the state coffers as rent. If they can’t, “they still get to keep their apartment”.

“It’s actually a cost-effective way of doing it,” explained Ana Kasparian, co-host of The Young Turks. “The annual cost of E.R. visits and jail stays for each homeless person is $16,670 per year. They found out that if you provide them housing, it’s actually much cheaper; the annual cost of providing an apartment and social worker for each homeless person is $11,000 per year.”

If you’re thinking this is only cost-effective because of the high cost of health care in the U.S., you’d be wrong.

“The Wellesley Institute’s Blueprint to End Homelessness (2007), Shapcott argues that the average monthly costs of housing people while they are homeless are $1,932 for a shelter bed, $4,333 for provincial jail, or $10,900 for a hospital bed. Compare this with the average monthly cost to the City of Toronto for rent supplements ($701) or social housing ($199.92).”

Turns out solving homelessness isn’t as complex an issue as we keep being told by politicians. Investing in homelessness prevention and housing would not only cost taxpayers less, it would be the moral and ethical thing to do.

2014/02/252014/05/08

Congratulations Local 50773

There’s some exciting news coming from the Museum of Human Rights: our members there have just ratified their first collective agreement.

“It’s been a lengthy process,” admits Regional Vice-President Martin Kaminski. “But it’s also been a very positive one.”

Close to 100% of members voted in favour of ratifying the new collective agreement, said Kaminski.

“We got really great comments from members,” explained Local President Stephen Carney, who was part of the bargaining team. “People are happy with the ultimate result.”

From the anonymous comment cards received, it’s clear that the members really appreciate the bargaining team’s hard work:

“Sounds good to me. Thanks to [the bargaining team]. I trust that they did their best and I’m happy with it,” wrote one member.

“Kudos to the bargaining team for a fair agreement!” wrote another.

For his part, Carney said he feels fortunate to have been part of the museum’s first collective agreement.

“It’s not something I had been involved in before,” admitted Carney. “I’ve worked in a union environment, but I had never been involved at the Local level or in the bargaining process.”

“It can be a really engaging experience. You end up becoming really close with your teammates.”

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights will officially open in September 2014.

Congratulations to the bargaining team: Stephen Carney, local president; Travis Tomchuk, local vice-president; Isabelle Masson, human rights officer; Tracy Thor, PSAC regional representative; and Stephen Bedingfield, negociator.

2014/01/30

What happened to Africville?

A piece by Céline Ahodekon

I knew nothing about the black community of Africville until Ben René, the UNE communication officer, recently asked me to write an article on Africville. I was shocked to find out that not long ago, some very basic human rights were denied to the people of that community.

Now, close your eyes with me and imagine for a moment: the house you are living in right now is being bulldozed because someone decided that your living conditions do not meet their standards. And, to add insult to injury, your land is taken away from you.

How do you feel?

That’s exactly what happened to Halifax’s oldest and largest black community of Africville, which was established hundreds years ago.

Even though, the black community of Africville was left to suffer with no basic services, such as clean water, paved roads, and electricity, they managed well on their own – that is, until the Halifax city council declared the community a slum and dump trucks roared into Africville to evict its residents. The people of Africville were quite literally moved to their new homes on the back of dump trucks.¹

One man returned home from the hospital only to find out there was no home for him to return to.²

The community was destroyed. Ironically, some residents weren’t forcedly moved to a better area, but into “derelict housing or rented public housing.”³ Why was that? Shouldn’t governments always try to change things for the better?

In this case, the people of Africville went from bad living conditions to worse ones….

In my opinion, it doesn’t matter what people think or say; home is where your memories are. Africville was home for these people. Yes, it might have been one of the worst slums in the country, but was still home to its residents.

As one former resident put it: “We lost more than a roof over our heads: the black community of Africville lost their happiness, their culture, their identity and, therefore, their soul”.⁴

“Africville didn’t have an organization to fight for Africville people,” said one the participants in a documentary.⁵ Again, brothers and sisters, this episode reminds me that to win a fight, we need to stand together to show that injury to one is injury to all.

Together we are strong!

What was the real reason behind the destruction of the black community of Africville in Halifax, NS and the relocation of its residents? We will never know for sure. However, many things have changed since then; the former site of Africville is now a park. The black community that was evicted, however, is still grappling with the impact of the homes they lost.

Brothers and Sisters, February is Black History Month; let’s take the opportunity to read and learn more about the history of black people in Canada, their stories and their achievements.

At Fort Langley, Ahodekon says she’s often asked if she’s a historian, to which she laughs and replies, “I am a business woman, I got my degree in business administration with concentration in marketing-sales from Laval University. I can sell anything I believe in and trust.”

“I believe in protecting and presenting Canada’s rich and beautiful natural and cultural heritage for Canadians’ enjoyment, today and for the years to come.”

If you’d like to find out more about Africville, Sister Ahodekon suggests watching “Remember Africville,” a 35-minute film by Shelagh Mackenzie, which can be viewed on the National Film Board’s website. We also encourage you to consult the links in the footnotes.

[1] The Canadian Encyclopedia, Africville.
[2] Idem
[3] Idem
[4] CBC Digital Archives, Officials hail Africville relocation.
[5] Idem