Province Hosts National Human Rights Conference
Human rights leaders, researchers, academics and others are coming to Halifax this spring to share ideas and develop new plans to deal with issues including bullying.
The Human Rights Commission and the Atlantic Human Rights Centre are hosting the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies conference, Renewing the Vision, May 29-31. They will also address consumer racial profiling, disability rights, truth and reconciliation, restorative justice, education and media relations.
"The recent tragedy in Nova Scotia reinforces how significant human rights and respect for others are in our lives," said Minister responsible for the Human Rights Commission Ross Landry. "The conference gives us the opportunity to share what we have learned from experts like Wayne MacKay and to learn from others on issues that touch every corner of the country."
Highlights include sessions with Mr. MacKay, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University and was chair of the Nova Scotia Task Force on Bullying and Cyberbullying on equality, and with 18 year-old Alisha Virmani, who was bullied as a student, and helped write cyber-bullying legislation in New Brunswick. The Human Rights Commission is participating in sessions on recent work it has done on consumer racial profiling and restorative justice.
Other keynote speakers include poet and playwright George Elliott Clarke, Danny Graham, Nova Scotia's chief negotiator on aboriginal rights and Andrew Bruce, president and CEO of Publicis Canada, the world's third largest communications group.
"The sessions and presentations give us an opportunity to share ideas with our colleagues from across the country," said commission director and CEO David Shannon. "Forums like this provide us with the chance to learn from each other to advance human rights and create a new vision to benefit everyone."
There will also be an art exhibit of works created by the students of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. The works will be based on disability, transgender, freedom of speech, race relations, cyberbullying and cultural diversity.
The Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies administers federal, provincial and territorial human rights legislation. It encourages collaboration among members and serves as a national voice on human rights issues. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are providing additional support.
The conference is being held at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, 1919 Upper Water St. For more details go to www.CASHRA2013.ca.