ADVISORY: Media are invited to join B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner for announcement of first public inquiry

Hate & racism

Updated: August 16, 2021

Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, will announce the topic of the first public inquiry to be conducted by her Office on Aug. 18, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.

Media are invited to register for a Zoom videoconference to learn more about the Commissioner’s first public inquiry: a year-long investigation into a major human rights issue of our time. The Commissioner will be available for questions.

Note: When registering, please advise us of any accessibility needs or translation requirements you may have. We will work to accommodate you.

Background

In November 2018, amendments to B.C.’s Human Rights Code came into force allowing for the creation of an independent human rights commissioner for British Columbia. Up until then, B.C. had been without a human rights commission since 2002—the only Canadian province without one. Commissioner Kasari Govender was appointed in September 2019.

In September 2020, more legal changes came into force that gave the Commissioner broad powers to inquire into matters that would serve to promote or protect human rights in B.C., including through a public inquiry.

A public inquiry is an opportunity to delve deeply into the human rights implications of a particular incident or issue, gather factual and expert evidence, hear directly from those impacted (for example, through witness statements, public hearings or surveys) and determine recommendations for how to address the human rights issues raised.

The inquiry being announced on Aug. 18, 2021 will be the first conducted by an independent human rights commissioner in B.C.

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Contacts

For questions about the upcoming announcement, please contact Elaine O’Connor, Acting Director, Communications, at Elaine.OConnor@bchumanrights.ca or 1-250-216-4534.

For questions about registration, including technical support questions and accessibility and translation requests, please contact: engagement@bchumanrights.ca

Media kit

Download our media kit for images of Commissioner Kasari Govender.

About BCOHRC

BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner exists to address the root causes of inequality, discrimination and injustice in B.C. by shifting laws, policies, practices and cultures. We do this work through education, research, advocacy, inquiry and monitoring.

About the Commissioner

B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, started her five-year term on Sept. 3, 2019. Since then, our Office has been working swiftly to build a strong team, to listen deeply to the concerns of British Columbians, to deliver education materials on our rights and responsibilities, to issue policy guidance to protect marginalized communities and to lay a human rights-based foundation for our work. As an independent officer of the Legislature, the Commissioner is uniquely positioned to ensure human rights in B.C. are protected, respected and advanced on a systemic level throughout our society.

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