Human Rights Working Group Calgary Ability Network (CAN) By: Tenaya Price- University of Calgary, Practicum Student

Calgary Ability network is about Community

Calgary Ability Network Is a collaborative partnership involving professionals and individuals from the disability community working together Our purpose is to bridge the gap between fragmented disability communities in Calgary and to put forward action plans to advance policies 6 different working tables. Recreation, Transportation, Poverty Reduction, Employment, Human Rights, and Accessible Housing (partnership).

CAN- Human Rights A new table Human Rights is a broad subject that many are hesitant to speak directly about…Nor do we think of it as being an issue in our own backyard Often associated with International poverty issues in third world countries, or as a violation of international, and national law as it pertains to an individual Urgent need for collaboration in the Disability Community here in Calgary

What are Human Rights?

Human Rights may mean something slightly different for everyone, particularly as it pertains to a certain issue… Common definition is… Human rights are the understood as the inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because he or she is a human being They are Universal (applied everywhere) They are Egalitarian (the same for everyone)

What is our Goal? Raising awareness to the public and community around human rights issues Working as a unified team to address issues at the community level for individuals with disabilities on many fronts, and across several domains Starting a dialogue on the issues in our current system and the barriers that people experience in our sector as they pertain to individuals human rights

Environmental Scan Through a Disability lens Our purpose…

Environmental Scan-Human Rights To focus our efforts in the disability community Need to be aware of what other organizations are doing and if there are other committees in existence This information allows us to be more effective in the community and encourages the need for collaboration with partners in the community In doing so this allows us to reassess current strategies and develop new ones as they are needed As a sector what do we do? How do we create awareness in the community to address change? Our ultimate goal is to promote education and create awareness

Calgary Ability Network (CAN) International Calgary Ability Network (CAN)

Legislation The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Generally agreed to be the foundation of International human rights law Canada is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Protection of human rights is therefore a part of our commitment to International law. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Examples Disabled People International: An International network of Organizations or Assemblies of Disabled People www.dpi.org Human Rights Watch: Defend and Protect Human Rights (Search Disability and a host of information and publications will come up on Disability Issues from around the world) www.hrw.org

Examples Continued… The UN convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1 50 The Convention follows decades of work by the United Nations to change attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities Shaped the way that countries protect and support people with developmental disabilities Creates an expectation on human rights for all countries to follow and use in their legislation and policy making

The UN Convention CoNt’d There are provinces that have adopted their own strong legislation which they hold to For example, Nova Scotia- celebrated the ratification by holding educational sessions in various universities across Nova Scotia Produced a Webinar called the “Civic engagement Webinar for Person’s with Disabilities”

Federal "Equality is a right guaranteed to all Canadian citizens. The values inherent in the concept of equality include self-determination, autonomy, dignity, respect, integration, participation and independent living.” (Government of Canada Website, 2014).

Legislation The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page- 15.html The Canadian Human Rights Act http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h- 6/fulltext.html These policies create a platform for ALL Canadians to be treated equally regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, disability etc.

Examples Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) www.ccdonline.ca Amnesty International Canada www.amnesty.ca The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities- Ratification by Canada http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/Resear chPublications/2012-89-e.htm

Calgary Ability Network (CAN) Provincial Calgary Ability Network (CAN)

Legislation Alberta Human Rights Act http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/ A25P5.pdf Benchmark that we follow Alberta Human Rights Commission http://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/about .asp Body or tribunal, that ensures the act is followed

Examples Public Interest Alberta http://pialberta.org/action-areas/human- services-poverty Alberta Civil Liberties Research http://www.aclrc.com The John Humphreys centre for Human rights http://www.jhcentre.org/

Other provinces by comparison Calgary Ability Network

Examples BC (Vancouver) Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Quebec Nova Scotia North West territories

Municipal City of Calgary

Legislation Alberta Human Rights Commission (Calgary) Follows the mandate of the Alberta commission Website links and publications

Calgary- What’s Being done at home Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative The International Society for peace and Human rights (Calgary chapter) Sheldon Chumir Foundation

Current Concerns for Persons with Disabilities Discussion Current Concerns for Persons with Disabilities

What are your thoughts? What are your experiences? Where have you noticed the gaps?

References Parliament of Canada website (2014) http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/2012-89-e.htm Council of Canadians with Disability Website (2014) http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/humanrights/ Government of Canada Website, Constitution (2014) http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-15.html Amnesty International website (2014) http://www.amnesty.ca The Calgary ability Network (2014) http://www.calgaryabilitynetwork.ca Alberta Human Rights Act http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/A25P5.pdf Alberta Human Rights Commission http://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/about.asp Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/ Disabled People International http://www.dpi.org Human Rights Watch http://www.hrw.org/search/apachesolr_search/Disability The UN CRPD http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=150 Public Interest Alberta http://pialberta.org/action-areas/human-services-poverty Alberta Civil Liberties research http://www.aclrc.com The JH Centre http://www.jhcentre.org/ The Canadian Charter of Rights and freedoms http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-15.html The Canadian Human Rights Act http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-6/fulltext.html The Canadian UN ratification http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/2012-89-e.htm Disabled Persons Commission Nova Scotia http://disability.novascotia.ca/content/united-nations-convention-rights-persons-disabilities Public Interest Alberta www.pialberta.org The VIHRC http://vihrc.org Amnesty International Saskatchewan http://www.amnestysaskatchewan.ca Sask voice http://saskvoice.com/home/about/ Manitoba Association for Rights http://www.marl.mb.ca Government of Manitoba Website http://www.gov.mb.ca/dio/citizenship/ Ontario Human Rights Commission http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en Quebec Cashra http://www.cashra.ca/past-featured/quebec-hr.html Nova Scotia CPN http://www.cpnnovascotia.ca NWT Government website http://nwthumanrights.ca/about-us Alberta Human Rights Commission website http://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca CUAI http://www.cuai.ca ISPHR http://www.peaceandhumanrights.org/Site/Welcome.html Sheldon Chumir Foundation http://www.chumirethicsfoundation.ca/about-us/