Global body reviewing Canada's human-rights credentials over discrimination complaint
CTV
A global human-rights alliance affiliated with the United Nations says it is reviewing the Canadian Human Rights Commission's compliance with international principles.
A global human-rights alliance affiliated with the United Nations says it is reviewing the Canadian Human Rights Commission's compliance with international principles.
The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions says it is deciding whether the Canadian agency still deserves an "A" rating, which allows it to participate in bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council.
The accreditation review comes after a coalition of human-rights organizations submitted a complaint about anti-Black discrimination within the commission.
"With this international review, the Canadian government is now on notice," said Nicholas Marcus Thompson, the executive director of the Black Class Action Secretariat.
"It cannot claim to be a global leader in human rights while discriminating against its own right here at home."
A coalition of federal unions and organizations representing some 700,000 employees filed the complaint earlier this year, saying that the Canadian Human Rights Commission is violating global law for its treatment of Black employees.
The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions received the request, and wrote in a report the information "raises concerns about the continued compliance of the CHRC with the Paris Principles, including its ability to conduct its mandate in an efficient manner and its perceived credibility in tackling systemic human rights violations."
