Taken directly from the site for Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade:
(No. 182 - June 3, 2010 – 6:25 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today voiced concern over the circumstances surrounding the death of prominent Congolese human rights defender Floribert Chebeya Bahizire and the disappearance of his driver, Fidèle Bazana Edadi, on June 2, 2010.
“This is an immense blow to human rights and human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Minister Cannon. “On behalf of Canadians, I express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Chebeya; my hope that Mr. Bazana will be found quickly, and safe and sound; and my solidarity with all Congolese human rights defenders.
“Canada urgently requests that an impartial, independent and fully transparent investigation be launched into the circumstances of Mr. Chebeya’s death and Mr. Bazana’s disappearance. Canada also urges the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to take the necessary measures to guarantee the protection of all human rights defenders.”
Mr. Chebeya was the executive director of the human rights group La Voix des Sans-Voix [Voice of the Voiceless] and had been campaigning in defence of democracy and human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the early 1990s. He met with the Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, while she was on a state visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo from April 18 to 20, 2010.
Showing posts with label Canadian Human Rights Commission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canadian Human Rights Commission. Show all posts
Monday, June 14, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Canadian Human Rights Commission
The Canadian Human Rights Commission administers the Canadian Human Rights Act. Section 3 of the Act prohibits discrimination based on "race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability and conviction for which a pardon has been granted." Section 13(1) addresses the issue of hate speech. The section states:
It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.
Section 13(2) makes clear that posting hateful or contemptuous messages to the Internet is prohibited. Section 54(1) allows a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to order a respondent to cease any discriminatory practice, to compensate the victim where the discrimination was wilful or reckless by an amount not exceeding $20,000, and to pay a penalty of not more than $10,000.
It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.
Section 13(2) makes clear that posting hateful or contemptuous messages to the Internet is prohibited. Section 54(1) allows a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to order a respondent to cease any discriminatory practice, to compensate the victim where the discrimination was wilful or reckless by an amount not exceeding $20,000, and to pay a penalty of not more than $10,000.
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