Human Rights
March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21 is a time to remember those who fought against racism and for equality and human rights. We must honour them by taking up the torch and continuing the struggle, especially at a time of relentless neoconservative efforts to roll back our gains.
A more recent example of these efforts is the Harper minority government’s refusal to participate in the upcoming United Nations International Forum to Against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia.
A further look at the Harper government’s record on human rights and equality makes it obvious that the Conservatives have no interest in fighting racism and discrimination.
In two years of government under the Conservative Party, it has:
- eliminated the Court Challenges Program,
- eliminated the Law Reform Commission,
- scrapped valuable literacy and equity programming to communities, including Aboriginal communities,
- reduced social development programs under the Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC),
- reduced programs that facilitate cultural awareness under Multiculturalism,
- refused to recognize Aboriginal rights in Canada and in the international forum, and
- detained racialized people under security certificates without proper due process.
Furthermore, the Conservative government, in its pursuit for corporate profits over the universal welfare of Canadians, continues to make cuts to quality public services and to privatize these services. It ignores the historical role that quality public services have played in Canada in ensuring equality and human rights.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada held its first National Racially Visible Conference early this March, and the racially visible members are now more determined to being in the forefront in the fight for equality, human rights and quality public services. Delegates to this conference have learned to decode the new language of racial discrimination being used by federal and provincial/territorial governments, especially in their backlash against reasonable accommodation. They have also committed to struggle to ensure fair representation of racially visible people in all areas of society, including the workplace, the union and our communities.
This March 21, the PSAC echoes this commitment and calls on all its members to stand in solidarity to resist the racist neoconservative attacks on equality and human rights and to continue the advance of this vital struggle.
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Date Modified : 2008/03/20
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