Human Rights Tribunal and Human Rights Commission

Human Rights Commission: Currently B.C. only has a Human Rights Tribunal , which mediates and adjudicates complaints about discrimination after it has occurred. The Tribunal does its job well. But the onus to identify and report human rights violations rests on individual British Columbians, who must know their rights, navigate the complaints process, and handle the risk of failure. We know that the complaints that get to the Tribunal are only the "tip of the iceberg," and that many of the tougher, more systemic issues are not resolved through individual complaints, according to Rabble. Recent events have also heightened our awareness of the prevalence of sexual harassment and violence against women. Our institutions -- even sophisticated ones like the University of British Columbia e.g. rape chants and campus sexual assaults and the CBC Jian Ghomeshi -- have yet to institute adequate practices and protocols that can prevent discrimination against women, and respond effectively when it occurs. Because women often do not trust the police to help them, most do not report sexual assaults. Again, a Human Rights Commission -- if we had one -- could develop standards, protocols and supports for employers and key service providers like the police and 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. For example, troubling evidence has come to light of abusive treatment of temporary foreign workers and recent immigrants in the food service and tree planting industries. Workers have been subjected to intimidation and sexual and racial harassment, and coerced into using over crowded and inadequate accommodation provided by the employer. These workers are too vulnerable and face too many obstacles -- including fear, financial need, lack of English fluency and isolation -- to deal with this discrimination on their own. A Human Rights Commission -- if we had one -- could investigate, issue public guidelines that would provide information, education and protection to both workers and employers, and monitor the situation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.