Law Society
Appoints Discrimination and Harassment Counsel
TORONTO,
Sept. 25 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Upper Canada today appointed Cynthia
Petersen as the Discrimination and Harassment Counsel (DHC), as part of
the Society's ongoing efforts to enable equity and diversity in the
workplace and the profession, and to help stop discrimination and
harassment.
"The Law Society is delighted to announce Ms. Petersen's
appointment as the DHC," said Law Society Bencher Joanne St. Lewis,
Chair of the Equity and Aboriginal Issues Committee, which recommended the
appointment to Convocation,the organization's governing body.
"Ms. Petersen brings to the position extensive knowledge of
equality rights, gained through her practice and experience as a law
professor. Her considerable experience in making recommendations about
policies, programs and services to promote non-discrimination will serve
the public and profession well, and be a valuable contribution to the
overall success of the program."
The Law Society provides the Discrimination and Harassment Counsel
service free of charge to the Ontario lawyers, articling students, law
firm staff and the public. The DHC confidentially assists anyone who may
have experienced discrimination or harassment by a lawyer or within a law
firm or legal organization. The program operates independently and at
arms-length from the Law Society.
"The DHC serves a critical need, not only to promote equality
within the legal profession but also to help stop discrimination and
harassment and assist individuals in understanding their rights and
options if they feel their rights may have been violated," said Ms.
St. Lewis.
Discrimination and Harassment Counsel Cynthia Petersen is bilingual
in French and English and a lawyer at the Toronto firm Sack Goldblatt
Mitchell. Her practice focuses on Charter litigation and labour law,
specializing in equality rights and human rights issues. She has appeared
before a variety of tribunals and all levels of court.
Prior to her practice she was a Professor at the Faculty of law,
University of Ottawa, having taught courses on constitutional law, lesbian
and gay legal issues, droit de la famille, property law and legal writing.
She has written numerous publications on human rights issues, including
issues of race and gay and lesbian issues.
Ms. Petersen was first appointed as Discrimination and Harassment
Counsel (DHC) on an interim basis in November 2002 to fill the position
left by Mary Teresa Devlin, the previous DHC, who was sworn in as a Judge
of the Ontario Court of Justice on November 17, 2002.
"The Law Society is deeply committed to making legal services
more accessible and promoting greater equity and diversity in the legal
profession," says Ms. St. Lewis. "We created the Discrimination
and Harassment Counsel in 2000 as part of our Bicentennial Report on
Equity Issues in theLegal Profession, which set the stage for many
programs and initiatives aimed at achieving equality in the profession and
recommended the establishment of a program for victims of harassment and
discrimination.
In addition, the Law Society recently instituted a review, chaired
by Ms. St. Lewis, of the implementation of the initiatives that came from
the Bicentennial Report.
The Law Society of Upper Canada exists to govern the legal
profession inthe public interest by ensuring that the people of Ontario
are served by lawyers who meet high standards of learning, competence and
professional conduct, and upholding the independence, integrity and honour
of the legal profession for the purpose of advancing the cause of justice
and the rule of law. Visit us online at www.lsuc.on.ca.
For more information on the DHC program, please go to
http://www.dhcounsel.on.ca.
For
further information: Media contact: Lisa Reilly, (416) 947-7625, lreilly@lsuc.on.ca;
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