"...PROMISES TO KEEP..."

IDEAS FROM CIVIC ORGANISATIONS/IDEAS FROM OFFICIAL AGENCIES/PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS' IDEAS/
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP/IDEAS FOR MULTILATERAL AGENCIES

Respondents made many specific suggestions for activities for a 1998 Commemorative Year and some proposed who might take responsibility for carrying the ideas out. In some cases, offers were made to include these activities as part of the respondent's own plans and programs for the Year. An extensive sampling of these ideas follows below, loosely categorized.

National activities, particularly those related to communication and media functions are relegated to the yet to be identified national structure. For the purposes of this report, this entity will be referred to as "the national structure!"

With the following suggestions came many offers from individuals and institutions to help develop and carry them through. There will certainly be no shortage of volunteers to help in realizing a Year of Human Rights, but the need for various forms of support must also be acknowledged.

Ideas from Civic Organizations

The following activities may be undertaken by the organizations and associations which comprise civil society: the many NGOs, professional associations, businesses, educators and lobby groups, to name a few. Their suggestions include the following:

• Benefit from existing events such as the Women's March to draw attention to human rights issues of women; build on Beijing Platform of Action.

• Have an annual conference on Human Rights Day (Community Legal Education Association, Manitoba).

• A prominent member of the literary community could be approached to discuss freedom of expression (PEN Canada).

• The 1998 anniversary could be used to highlight some of the projects of the International Council for Adult Education, for example a collaborative project linking NGOs internationally in developing a Human Rights index.

• From Les Femmes autochthones du Quebec, a suggestion to have "un concour addressé aux caricaturistes ou artistes afin qu'elles soumettent des oeuvres ayant pour thèmes les droits de la personne."

• The Atlantic Human Rights Centre suggests that a programme be built around concrete action. They also offer to act as the Atlantic regional contact centre.

• Calgary would most certainly participate. Also forwarded the idea of raising Human Rights with Cities through their national organizations, such as the Big City Mayors Association and the Canadian Federation of Municipalities.

• Find ways to access the Calgary Stampede and the '97 Petroleum Shows to publicize the Year.

• Organize at the community level by sector and place heavy emphasis on the Arts Community.

• National organizations would be essential partners - not only through their activities but through their own communications media (newsletters and the like).

• City hall often issues proclamations Could they not be asked to plan a day of speakers and activities, like a "Festival of Human Rights"?

• Use local festivals (multicultural, arts and music, etc.) to promote the Declaration.

• Communities could be asked to develop thematic approaches to the Declaration and use dates of significance to the community in addition to the nationally celebrated ones (Women, Aboriginal, Labour, etc.).

• Actively engage the Rotarians in this case, particularly in Winnipeg where they organize the annual MUNA attended by hundreds of students from the Mid West, Canada and the US They could easily add a Human Rights dimension to their work by having a day set aside for Human Rights Commission activities (Winnipeg/Manitoba).

• Could Rotarians and other service clubs across the country be encouraged to undertake similar activities focused on youth and Human Rights?

• The media could be approached and asked to do a story on local issues.

• If Human Rights education is to be done correctly, teacher-training programmes (both preparatory/Teachers' College and in-service/Professional Development days) need to be organized so that the materials can be used appropriately.

• In 1997 begin to draw the connections between citizenship and Human Rights. It is a many-faceted but fascinating discussion. Challenge people to develop the meaning of an active citizenship as the flip side of guaranteed Rights.

• Can we ask governments if they have a plan of action for advancing Human Rights into the next century?

• Can this be the Centre-piece Proposal for the Programme of Action for the Decade for Human Rights Education?

• Employ students during the summer to promote the Declaration and distribute information, particularly to the schools.

• How can you best use students to spread the message (MUNAs, competitions, posters, essays, summer employment programmes, volunteers, etc.)?

• Involve the Aboriginal Bar Association in planning.

• Have communities involved in creating community murals on public or private walls that have a Declaration theme.

• Ensure that arts and culture groups are involved. With a little amount of money, they can produce enormous results for the Declaration - plays, music and song, sculpture, etc., - all could make a contribution to the Declaration.

• Involve teachers in a comprehensive process of teacher-training, seeking their input to curriculum material.

• C.R. Bronfman (CRB) Foundation may provide curriculum support.

• C.R. Bronfman(Quebec) considering production of a Heritage Moment on John Humphrey, along with 25 minute video for classroom use.

• Meetings with McGill jurists indicated support for programme activity in the Declaration. Law faculty will probably look at a conference (Humphrey lectures) that will focus on the Declaration. Concordia University also expressed interest in specialised programming and if approached would consider "academia" oriented suggestions.

• Universities awarding Honorary Degrees to deserving human rights activists.

• Interest expressed in the possibility of re-editing (to include an introduction by a prominent Canadian) and re-launching the Keith Dunnet film on John Humphrey which could be used by both the media (TVO expressed strong interest) and the schools across the country in better understanding the role played by this Canadian in the Declaration. If resources were available it could be part of a comprehensive kit distributed to the schools which was a strategy also thought to be essential in reaching this "new audience".

• The national coordinating committee and the regional/provincial organizations could organize a national speakers bureau so that anyone needing speakers on the subject of human rights could be invited from the list.

• Considering the emphasis placed on the importance of media and a national communications strategy, serious consideration could be given to a juried prize at national and regional levels for journalists covering domestic and international human rights issues over the course of the year.

• Develop a lengthy list of suggested activities and distribute to community organizations.

• Approach banks at community and provincial level for backing and donations.

• Seek sponsors during Declaration year for refugees from countries that have the records of poor human rights.

• Promote the idea of a local business man who sponsored five essays on human rights in local schools.

• Devise strategies to involve small business in marking the year.
• Could request speakers across the country to host a number of receptions and events to mark the Declaration.

• In planning a national communications strategy place significant emphasis on what people can see repeatedly - such as posters, buses, logos, etc.

• Retail outlets - at least the major ones like Sears, The Bay, Eaton's, etc., should be approached about storefront displays.

• Look at more popular and dynamic means to express human rights principles - children's story books, comic books, non-violent Genesis/Nintendo games.

• Pursue work with Heritage Moments (C.R. Bronfman Foundation) to expand work so that two or three are done throughout the year on HUMAN RIGHTS.

• As they do with the environment movement, can a "report card" on human rights be done of the national and provincial governments?

• Coalitions would be best able to find ways to honour the contributions of local human rights heroes. Celebrate our own, particularly the un-sung ones.

• Look at "social justice fairs" where the public would be invited to sample our wares in a festival atmosphere. How can we get the hugely successful Folklore Festival to incorporate human rights into their theme in 1998?

• Consider the production of print materials in Braille or large-print for those who have difficulty with sight.

• Ensure that discussions, planning and publicity take into account the fact that we are in the middle of the Decade for Human Rights Education. How can that be exploited?

• A "range of days" - organizing activities on human rights related days throughout the year.

• Reproduce the Declaration using numerous formats (book marks, brochures, cereal boxes, etc.)

• Have we asked universities to consider honorary degree awards to human rights activists and to invite human rights as a topic of convocation addresses?

• Capitalize on J. Humphrey's birthplace being Hampton, NB and the role he played in promoting the Declaration.

• Launch year on 10 December 1997 and plan activities throughout the year.

• To raise resources perhaps the federal government could contribute but on a matching dollar basis (using an appropriate formula) to entice both the provinces and the private sector and foundations to come on board.

• Reach young children through creative school and extra-curricular activities. Organize a poster contest (free trip to Disneyland?), and have kids do a poster on each Article, processed and judged by their peers.

• Create a federal-provincial-private foundations partnership on Rights (matching dollar formula) to fund activities for the year. MAKE FUNDS AVAILABLE DIRECTLY TO THE LOCAL LEVEL, so that it will not be swallowed up by the nationals!

• Develop creative programming for the Internet. Have all the Premiers' home pages on the Net include a specific reference to the Declaration.

• The more "mass" the communication is, the better! Include appropriate copies of the Declaration in everything: hydro bills, public transit, cereal boxes (a lot of cereal is eaten across this country, and reading the boxes must be a popular pastime).

• Use approach deployed by organizers of 21 March and Black History Month. Develop a coalition with common objectives, specific responsibilities allocated and publicize the activities as much as possible.

• We can develop a report card on the government and demonstrate where they are passing and where they are failing, or at least develop benchmarks by which to judge their conduct in human rights.

• Students could not only be hired during the summer break, but also under the co-op education programmes that could "draft" students for work on Declaration initiatives.

• Arrange for a national quilt on human rights, with participating communities creating one square on the quilt.

• Invite exiled leaders, peace laureates, those who have struggled publicly and internationally for human rights to come to Canada and honour them.

• Create a "50 communities programme" where Canadian communities are invited to nominate groups or individuals in their community that have advance the cause of human rights in Canada or the world. A group of judges would select the 50 winners" and honour them appropriately.

• Get students across the country to organize a cross-Canada tour of a major rock group who could carry the message to high schools and universities across the country.

• Produce an interactive CD Rom for high school students on the Declaration and distribute it as part of a kit.

• Develop partnerships on specific activities relating to the Declaration that involve the legal community, business, service organizations like the Rotarians and the human rights community and NGOs (or any of the above) to create cooperative opportunities for like-minded organizations to work together.

• Additional youth-focused activities could include specialized TV programming and recognition or achievement awards for young people who have worked in this field.

• Canada Post and the Canadian Mint should be approached to prepare something for 1988 Year, e.g. perhaps a Humphrey stamp?

• It was also suggested that a positive way to expand the "circle of the converted" was to involve "transitional points of entry to human rights issues", for example contacting multicultural organizations, oversight commissions (police, etc.), municipal councils and their race-relations committees, environmental and peace groups, gay and lesbian organizations, women's groups, HIV/Aids organizations, Commonwealth Bar Association and Secretariat, la Francophonie, and most certainly aboriginal organizations.

• There were also strong expressions of interest in promoting Canada's international role in moving activities on the Declaration, particularly since the international community seems to be "conferenced out" and lacks any current energy to excite itself about the Declaration. Some suggested that Canada could invite civil society and governments to Canada in 1998 to examine the role of the UN and civil society and to examine how far governments have come with their respective plans of action following Vienna and Beijing.

Ideas from Official Agencies

Statutory Human Rights Agencies and Offices of the Ombudsman were consulted because of their ongoing legislative and educational interest in human rights. This is a group that is also enthused about the potential of 1998 as an active and educational time, and a sampling of their suggestions follow.

• Highlight "ideal Human Rights communities".

• Canada could provide training programs for countries wanting to create ombudsman offices.

• Conduct local education through workers' unions.

• Approach Craig Keilberger and suggest partnership to highlight exploitation of young people internationally.

• Create an interactive CD ROM on Human Rights.

• Create and display widely a quilt with different squares contributed from different parties to represent issues.

• Involve all quasi Human Rights Commissions in the marking of the Declaration including Police, Privacy, Language, etc. Creative ideas are needed to involve them in the discussions.

• Examine the possibility of hosting an international conference of Ombudsman for the Declaration year, or at least putting it prominently on the national agenda.

• The 1998 Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies conference will be in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Much can be done here to mark the year in the themes developed for the conference. We should attempt to obtain a list of all national conferences (even in the construction industry!) and use these as a vehicle for education!

• Nova Scotia Commission will develop a joint strategy with Ombudsman and work to facilitate activities of other organizations on the matter.

• Quebec Office of the Ombudsman and Human Rights Commission plan to move ahead with specialized programmes to mark the Year.

Provincial Governments' Ideas

This category refers to the ten provincial governments. In some case, for example in Atlantic Canada, offers are made to work at a regional level.

An overall strategy must be developed outlining ideas for provincial government involvement in Declaration such as Throne Speeches, regional or national meetings where politicians come together, declarations and resolutions in the Houses of Assembly, all party committees, activities undertaken by the Lieutenant Governors, Speaker of the House, etc. A strategy brain-storm on this would produce many ideas.

The Model United Nations Assemblies (MUNA) could be a national programme organized across the country with high schools and with existing MUNA where one day could be added to focus on human rights issues.

The Chief of Staff of the Minister Responsible for Human rights (Quebec) will have the matter considered by an interdepartmental committee.

Ontario Minister Responsible has specific plans for the Year and has a very strong concern about educating youth.

An interdepartmental committee within the civil service is a must if this is to be taken seriously. At the very least provincial departments had the "Year of the Family" logo put on departmental letterhead.

The provincial coordinating committee could organize a national or provincial list of activities to inform others.

Organize by sectors across the province with a major emphasis on getting to youth through traditional and non-traditional sources.

Legislatures can: Declare a Human Rights year, week, or at least a Human Rights Day; pass a resolution in the House; strike an all-party committee; strike a commemorative coin (to be explored soon with the Royal Canadian Mint); host an international conference; review adequacy of Human Rights legislation; appropriate education budgets for human rights; organize a debate in the House; ask the Government of Canada to convene ministers responsible meeting; ask that the Order of Canada awards place particular emphasis on human rights during the Declaration.

Throughout Nova Scotia during the summer there are many "clan" activities. What can be done to spread the message through this excellent social system?

In 1997 a joint seminar could be organized for all Prince Edward Island on the proposed amendments to the provincial Human Rights Code. Possibly draft legislation could be proposed and the public invited to engage in the debate.

Political Leadership

Both federal and provincial leaders and Parliamentarians were met to determine their degree of political interest in the issue. Some planning is underway already, and existing and potential efforts include:

• the Canadian Mint and Canada Post considering commemorative coins, stamps.

• a suggestion that a series of "Humphrey lectures" be mounted in universities.

• a school kit should be launched.

• Canada should host a conference to examine governments' follow up records post-Vienna and Beijing conferences.

• Non-partisan caucus in Parliament (House of Commons and Senate) should be formed.

• Curriculum development remains an important part of the formal education system and human rights must be part of that process. Someone needs to do a national inventory of school teaching materials on human rights, tolerance, multiculturalism, etc., so that the more useful information may be shared.

Ideas for Multilateral Agencies

• This category covers United Nations offices located in Canada, for example the UNA-C or United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

• Examine what worked in the 40th anniversary activities and replicate.

• Use UNA-C web site for a list of national activities. Ideas to be carried out by National Structure.

• The UN 50th material was excellent if little used. Would it be possible to do a supplement on the Declaration and distribute it as part of the package?

• UN should be approached about producing memorabilia for the Year.

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HUMAN RIGHTS PAGE | TABLE OF CONTENTS | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | INTRODUCTION | BACKGROUND | METHODOLOGY | KEY THEMES |
KEY CONDITIONS | CHOICES FOR AN ENABLING STRUCTURE |
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS | IDEAS BANK: 101 WAYS TO COMMEMORATE 50 YEARS

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