Response to Premier Horgan from BC’s Human Rights Commissioner on the Collection and Use of Disaggregated Data
June 23, 2020
Dear Premier Horgan, Thank you for your letter of June 16, 2020 regarding the collection of race-based and disaggregated data. I appreciate you reaching out for my advice on this important and timely issue. As you know, on June... Read More
B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner Hosts Online Townhall for Northwest B.C.
June 23, 2020
On Thursday, June 25, 2020, from 2:30-4:30 pm PDT, BC’s Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender will be hosting an education and engagement session via Zoom with participants from BC’s Northwest. The two-hour session is an opportunity to hear from... Read More
BC’s Human Rights Commissioner Hosts Education and Engagement Session for Interior B.C.
June 9, 2020
On Thursday, June 11, 2020, from 2:30-4:30 pm, BC’s Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender will be hosting an education and engagement session via Zoom with participants from BC’s interior. The two-hour session is an opportunity to hear from people... Read More
Human Rights Commissioners Call for a National Strategy for the Collection of Disaggregated Health Data
June 5, 2020
Today, Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial human rights commissions issued a letter calling on the Government of Canada to develop and implement a nation-wide strategy for the collection of disaggregated health data focused on race and Indigeneity. ‘Colour-blind’ approaches... Read More
Domestic Violence During COVID-19: Representative for Children and Youth and Human Rights Commissioner Call for Increased Visibility of Supports and Resources
April 17, 2020
British Columbia is currently marking Prevention of Violence Against Women Week (April 12-18). Never has this week been more important to mark than now, during the current COVID-19 pandemic. .PDF of the release is available here. “Family violence rises... Read More
A Call for Human Rights Oversight of Government Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 15, 2020
Today, more than 300 human rights leaders and organizations from across Canada joined together to call for oversight of government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The joint statement follows below. A Call for Human Rights Oversight of Government Responses... Read More
A Call to Name and Remember: BC’s Human Rights Commissioner’s Statement on the Anniversary of the Quebec City Mosque Shooting
January 29, 2020
Three years ago, Canada was rocked by shock and horror as a terrorist attack claimed the lives of six men at a Quebec City mosque and injured many others. “I honour the memories of those who were cruelly taken... Read More
Letter to the First Nations LNG Alliance from BC’s Human Rights Commissioner
January 23, 2020
In response to an open letter addressed to Commissioner Govender from the First Nations LNG Alliance, dated January 19 2020, the Commissioner issued the following letter. The Commissioner’s statement of January 10, 2020 is in line with Resolution no,... Read More
Statement from BC’s Human Rights Commissioner on UN CERD’s Decision Statement
January 10, 2020
BC Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender issued the following statement regarding the recent decision statement by the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). “In my lifetime, there has never been a more important time for Canada... Read More
BC’s Human Rights Commissioner Celebrates Human Rights Day!
December 10, 2019
Each year, on Human Rights Day, people around the world mark the anniversary of United Nations’ adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—the first time in our history that nations came together to document the inalienable rights of... Read More
BC Human Rights Commissioner Statement on National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
December 6, 2019
Vancouver– 30 YEARS AFTER THE ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE MASSACRE, THE HATEFUL IDEAS THAT LED TO THE MURDER OF 14 WOMEN ARE STILL WITH US. In 1989, a gunman walked into an engineering classroom, ejected the men from the room, and told... Read More
BC’s Human Rights Commissioner Applauds Initial Steps to Implement UNDRIP in B.C.
October 24, 2019
VANCOUVER – Today, the Province of British Columbia introduced legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). “The legislation introduced today is an important moment in B.C.’s journey of reconciliation,” said Human Rights... Read More
BC’s New Human Rights Commissioner takes Oath of Office
September 3, 2019
Victoria, B.C. – Kasari Govender was sworn in by Acting Clerk Kate Ryan-Lloyd as B.C.’s new human rights commissioner at the Legislature today. The Office of the Human Rights Commissioner will be headquartered in Vancouver. It is Canada’s first... Read More
