New
human rights policy to modernize struggle agaist racism in Ontario
TORONTO, June 28 /CNW/ - "It is time organizations and
institutions
acknowledge
the reality of racism and be prepared to act against subtle and
sometimes
subconscious prejudices and stereotypes that too often result in
discrimination",
said Keith Norton, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human
Rights
Commission today as he announced the release of the Commission's Policy
and
Guidelines on Racism and Racial Discrimination.
"While Ontario has done
much to provide protection against racism and
racial
discrimination, the fact remains that too many Ontarians continue to
experience
it," Mr Norton told an audience of community leaders, officials and
individuals
this morning. Each year 30% to 40% of complaints filed with the
Commission
cite race and related grounds.
Building on its recent
examination into the effects of racial profiling,
the
Commission's policy focuses particularly on systemic discrimination. The
Commission
has found it is one of the more complex ways in which racial
discrimination
occurs. Systemic discrimination refers to patterns of
behaviour,
policies or practices that are part of the social or administrative
structures
of an organization, which create or perpetuate a position of
relative
disadvantage for racialized persons.
"Organizations have a
positive obligation to ensure they are not engaging
in,
condoning or allowing systemic racial discrimination and harassment to
occur,"
remarked Mr. Norton. Obligations in this regard range from collecting
numerical
data in appropriate circumstances, accounting for historical
disadvantage,
reviewing policies, practices and decision-making processes for
adverse
impact on Aboriginal and racialized communities to having in place and
enforcing
anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and education
programs,
and more.
The Policy provides much needed
guidance to the public concerning their
rights
and responsibilities under the Code. It describes a number of
considerations
the Commission will use to examine whether discrimination has
occurred
and stresses the importance of building an organizational culture of
prevention
and respect for human rights. It will also enable the Commission to
take
a consistent approach to mediating, investigating, analyzing and
litigating
cases citing race and related grounds, as well as pursue public
interest
remedies aimed at correcting systemic discrimination and historical
disadvantage
in settlements and in decisions before the Human Rights Tribunal
of
Ontario.
To get a copy of the Policy and
Guidelines on Racism and Racial
Discrimination,
please visit the Ontario Human Rights Commission Web site at:
www.ohrc.on.ca.
