Defending Human Rights: Change Through Collaboration
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- Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
- Written by editor
Dear Friend,
At the BCCLA, we have always fought to protect fundamental human rights and freedoms, but we never do this work alone.
From coalition work and joint advocacy, to lending our perspectives in challenges against unjust legislation, to amplifying the voices of people across the country, we continue to uphold human rights and push for change through collaboration.
Read about our work to protect democratic rights.
Some highlights from the past two years:
- Dismantling legacies of discrimination: As part of the Coalition on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in BC, we raised concerns about the lack of information and registration delays for First Nations women and their descendants who are newly entitled to status. Along with the BC Human Rights Tribunal and other organizations, we also advocated for the addition of Indigenous identity as a ground of discrimination in the BC Human Rights Code.
- Protecting benefits for young adults leaving government care in Alberta: The BCCLA intervened in AC and... JF v. Alberta, a case about an Alberta law that put young adults raised in government care at risk of losing financial and emotional benefits to help them transition to independence. We argued that the law should be suspended because it violates the rights to life, liberty, and security of the person under s. 7 of the Charter. Unfortunately, the Alberta Court of Appeal allowed the injunction appeal, which meant that young adults raised in government care were denied critical benefits. However, the majority of the Court agreed with the BCCLA that s. 7 of the Charter may protect positive socio-economic rights in a future case.
Read more about our work on human rights on our blog.
At the BCCLA, we know that better is possible, and we will fight alongside other organizations and community groups to make it happen.
Thank you for joining us to create a legacy of change.
Sincerely,
Jessica Magonet (she/her)
Staff Counsel, Litigation.
