Human Rights Day December 10, 2016

Human Rights:  Human Rights Day – December 10, 2016

To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others ~ Nelson Mandela

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
—Article 1, United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Introduction:

Human rights are as old as human civilization; but their use and relevance have been well defined during the recent years. It has gathered more importance in the post-second-world war period, particularly after the United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) in 1948.

Human rights are essential to ensure the dignity of every person as a human being free from brutality.  Each individual has a right to life and right to a decent living. In the present day world, there is a lot of concern about the protection of human rights.

Twenty-seven million people live in slavery—more than twice the number during the peak of the slave trade. And more than a billion adults are unable to read. Given the magnitude of human rights violations-it is not surprising that 90 percent of people are unable to name more than three of their thirty rights – Source: Vancouver Sun

Who then, with so many unaware of their most basic rights, will make sure that human rights are promoted, protected and kept a reality?

Some Modern Day Champions of Human Rights:

Note that the information presented in this blog, is a summation to provide only an overview.

For more details click on these links: 

Canada Human Rights Act

BC Human Rights Tribunal

History:

The concept of human rights was strengthened by the Magna Carta (1215) and Bill of Rights (England) 1689. This included rights like right to life, liberty, property and that the citizens have always a legitimate right to overthrow a Government if it failed to protect the citizens’ rights.

Almost a century later, American Declaration of Independence (1776) affirmed that ‘all men are created equal’ and ‘right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness’.

The famous ‘French Declaration of Rights of men and citizens’ in 1789, came as an outcome of the French Revolution. It proclaimed that ‘men are born free’ and they remain ‘free and equal in the enjoyment of rights of liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression’.

The United Nations on Decembers 10, 1948 adopted the Universal declaration of Human Rights. Thus December 10th became a historic day. Each year, this day is celebrated all over the world as Human Rights Day. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights which has been described as the ‘Magnacarta of mankind’, runs into 30 Articles.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights enumerates two sets of human rights

• The first of rights are essential for adequate development of human personality, economic and social rights. These rights include right to fulfillment of basic human needs like food, shelter, clothing, health, sanitation, leisure, good standard of living, education, to work and equal pay for equal work.
• The first set of rights is civil and political rights essential for the dignified and decent human existence. This includes right to freedom of speech and expression, cultural and educational rights plus right to decent life and liberty, equality before law, move freely and vote or take part in the governance of one’s country.

Human Rights in BC

British Columbia is the only province in Canada that does not have a human rights commission. That makes us the weakest province when it comes to fostering human rights awareness and preventing discrimination.

Currently, B.C. only has a human rights tribunal, which mediates and adjudicates complaints about discrimination after it has occurred.

BC Human Rights Code

(a) Foster a society in British Columbia where there are no impediments to full and free participation in the economic, social, political and cultural life

(b) Promote a climate of understanding and mutual respect where all are equal in dignity and rights

(c) Prevent discrimination

(d) Identify and eliminate persistent patterns of inequality associated with discrimination

(e) Provide a means of redress for those persons who are discriminated against.

BC Human Rights in Employment

Some key points:

Discrimination in employment advertisements

This concerns advertisement that expresses a preference to specific race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age; unless this is based on a bona fide occupational requirement.

Discrimination in wages

• Employer must not discriminate by employing specific gender at a rate of pay that is less than the rate an employee of the other sex is employed for similar work
• Skill, effort and responsibility must be paid at rate based on seniority, merit and systems that measure quantity or quality of work for similar work
• A difference in the rate of pay between employees of different sexes based on a factor other than sex for the difference is reasonably justifiable
• If an employee is paid less than the rate of pay to which the employee is entitled the employee is entitled to recover from the employer, the difference. This is conditional upon action being commenced no later than 12 months from the termination of services and the action applies only to wages of an employee during the 12 month period immediately before the date of termination or the commencement of the action whichever is earliest.

Discrimination in employment

• Employer must not discriminate against a person regarding employment or any term or condition of employment because of the race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or because that person has been convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the employment or to the intended employment
• An employment agency must not refuse to refer a person for employment for any reason mentioned above.

Discrimination by unions and associations

These bodies must not exclude any person from membership, nor expel, suspend or discriminate against any person because of the race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or member, or because that person or member has been convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the membership or intended membership.

Regards for the Happy Holiday Season!!!