Hate & racism
Updated: September 1, 2021
Vancouver B.C. – BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner has launched a new hate speech Frequently Asked Questions resource to help people better understand human rights law as it applies to hate. The Office will host a live virtual public education session in September.
“Many of us feel powerless in the face of hate,” said B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender. “We are launching this resource to help British Columbians understand that there are legal protections in place to protect our human rights and hold perpetrators of hate accountable—legal protections that may be empowering for those who have been targeted by hateful words or symbols.”
Our new hate speech FAQ, which can be found at bchumanrights.ca/hate/speech, was designed to help more people in B.C. understand hate speech and their rights and responsibilities under the law.
On Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, members of the public are invited to join our Office for a public education session on the basics of hate speech law in B.C. During this event, participants will learn:
- What is hate speech?
- What are my legal options if I have been targeted by hate speech?
- How can we create caring, supportive communities to address the impacts of hate speech?
In this session, our Legal and Engagement teams will share the top five facts everyone should know about hate speech and the law. We will review hate speech resources on our website, discuss how best to support people who experience hate speech and what kind of community supports are available to help.
As part of this public outreach effort on hate law, we will also provide a brief overview of Commissioner Govender’s provincial Inquiry into hate in the pandemic. Learn more about the Inquiry and how to participate at: hateinquiry.bchumanrights.ca
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Event details
- Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2021
- Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDT
- Method: Virtual, via Zoom Webinar
- RSVP: Register for the event here
If you need assistance registering or have questions about this event, please email Emily Chan, Engagement Advisor, at engagement@bchumanrights.ca or contact us toll-free at 1-844-922-6472.
Accessibility notes
- Closed captioning will be available for this session.
- For those joining the webinar from their phone, we will have a toll-free number available.
- Please submit any other accessibility-related requests you may have via our registration page by Wednesday, Sept. 7. We will try our best to find options that will work for you.
Media contact
The Commissioner is not available for interviews. If you are a member of the media with questions please contact Elaine O’Connor, Acting Director, Communications, at Elaine.OConnor@bchumanrights.ca or 1-250-216-4534.
Media kit
Download our media kit for new 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. Learn more at: bchumanrights.ca
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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