"...PROMISES TO KEEP..."

Through the process of national consultation described above, several themes kept recurring as common threads. An overarching theme is that for Canadians, human rights are "front and centre" values that are not merely the preserve of special interest groups. There is great concern that these rights may become marginalized or neglected as part of the current trend of the reduction of social programs. And if this theme, and the others listed below, are to be addressed in 1998, it will only be if they are loudly and widely communicated by all means possible - and particularly through the mass media and the "new" electronic media.

In addition to the theme of non-marginalization, and the need for communication, other themes which recurred can be broadly categorized as the following:

• Youth Participation
• Diversity
• Economic and Social Rights
• Civil Society
• Aboriginal Rights
• Privacy and Technology
• Role of the UN and Civil Society

The following section provides further detail on how these particular themes emerged.

Youth Participation

There was a consistent and overwhelming preoccupation with youth and the challenge of how to create programming that addresses their concerns. How to reach them "at where they are at?" Educators are particularly concerned about the importance of teaching the next generation key principles of human rights such as tolerance, acceptance, gender equality and conflict resolution. There is an appreciation that careful consideration must be given to the vehicles to reach youth - suggestions included music, curriculum, MUNA (Model United Nations focussing on Human Rights) and even the creation of a "Nintendo" type game. To reach out to this audience will require creative advertising on T.V., the use of "MuchMusic" and the like, and of course, the Internet will be key as an interactive means of communication. Having youth groups such as Jeunesse du Monde as principal players in the Year would be critical.

A specific focus on "Generation X" was emphasised due to the perception that they may be feeling alienated from a society in which they are deprived of the means of gaining any economic advantage. A salient question, related to theme 4.3 on economic and social rights, is "What do you say that is relevant to this rapidly expanding and increasingly disenfranchised audience ?"

Youth themselves were very expressive about their view of rights, which ones have priority, and what would be effective ways to share their concern with other Canadians, and with other nationalities. For example, a youth focus group which met in Ottawa felt very strongly about their wish to have Canada undertake an international role, but not at the expense of pressing domestic rights issues. How, they wondered, could rights be addressed at both levels and allow Canada to proudly encourage other countries to take a similar approach? Their suggestions included innovative ideas to incorporate human rights education in the school system, in the media currently popular with youth and particularly using new technologies such as the Internet. Youth drew up a list of more than 30 rights they consider the most important for their age group, and it is no surprise that the list is topped with "right to employment." Specific activity suggestions can be found in the "Ideas Bank" at the conclusion of this report.

"Young people really want to know what their rights and responsibilities are. They really want to become involved... but they need to have information and access to it."

"If you want to reach more than just those who are familiar with the Declaration, then you have to market Human Rights, like you would any other product. Kids have to be able to read an Article or two of the Declaration on the back of cereal boxes, or milk cartons." Why not ?"

"Can we bring youth together from across the country to examine Human Rights and their future, but try for a cross-section, not the "up and coming" leaders of tomorrow, or find a way to involve mainstream youth and not always their appointed leadership."

"I would love to get involved - but I don't know where."

Diversity

Subsumed in this theme are the concerns about international refugees and the multicultural nature of Canada. For the Year, multicultural organizations in Canada could play a critical role in giving visibility to Human Rights by making the explicit connection between the "traditional issues" of racism, tolerance, place in the work force - and the discourse on human rights. Consideration should be given to the rights of people still viewed as marginalized in Canada: First Nations, Inuit, Metis, Refugees, New Canadians. Activities should be conducted both at the local level and through national umbrella organizations. Also, multicultural festivals could be used to promote the UDHR.

Other organizations as well need to address the value and advantages of an inherently diversified society, which Canada is, and to explore ways of ensuring that the Canada of the 21st century is a positive reflection of all its citizens. We are not free of negative and hostile behaviours, and must learn quickly to address and redress them before they cause further damage and alienation.

Concern was expressed for international refugees and their right to seek asylum and a suggestion was made to hold an international conference in Canada on refugees, or to seek sponsorship for refugees from countries where human rights abuses prevail.

"We are all multi-faith here and very ecumenical. When it comes to social justice issues we have all converted and reconverted each other so many times that new blood is needed."

"There must be a platform for the marginalized in Canada during the Year otherwise this will be a wasted exercise in Canadian aggrandizement and propaganda. If we are going to tell the story - let the whole story be told."

"Ensure that planning involves the multicultural community as they have traditionally stood to gain or lose much by how "tolerant" mainstream society has been of their presence in the past."

Economic and Social Rights

Perhaps this was one of the most dominant themes in Canada's present climate of fiscal restraint. The governments are perceived to be undercutting a social safety net that Canadians have fought hard for and are proud of and the social and economic hardships being faced by Canadians are very much seen as an erosion of fundamental rights. Discussion arose about the possible need for a new social contract or covenant between Canadians and their governments. One suggestion was that the year could focus on local economic recovery and independent self-sufficiency as a theme, with people at local levels sharing their success stories in building economic self-sufficiency, particularly in areas of the country where poverty has "ground people down." However, this theme is not unique to any one region, and its universality lends to the potential for national collaboration.

"On social justice and human rights issues, if the cutbacks and downsizing and programme reductions are doing anything, they are encouraging us to sing as members of the same choir, instead of as a group of soloists."

"This is the Year for the Eradication of Poverty. Have you heard one peep from the Government on this subject ? Of course not, they are too busy creating it with their policies to eradicate the universality of social programmes."

"Empty bellies don't celebrate. How can we convince Canadians that many of our social programmes are our birthright and that their disintegration means our disintegration as a caring people?"

"The erosion of social and economic rights protection seems to be a key reason why a big majority of participants in consultation urged that the activities for the year focus on domestic issues, or at least on the link between international issues and domestic realities. Few believed that the Year should focus entirely on issues outside Canada."

Civil Society

Discussion arose on the topic of rights and citizenship and how both concepts pivot on the same axis. The importance of citizenship was underscored and how Canadians must return to being a "caring community" so that rights could be better protected in fulfilling our civic duties. It was proposed that increased education on the importance of community and citizenship would enhance communal and individual rights.

"Human rights have traditionally outnumbered human wrongs in our country. We are known as a caring place. We cannot allow the balance to shift in the other direction with our own government leading the way."

"I may claim a right to health care not only as a social programme in Canada but as a right entitlement. However, that right demands as a responsibility from me to support that system through my contributions when I am able to do so."

Aboriginal Participation

The metaphorical call to "clean up our own backyard" was made repeatedly across Canada by a wide variety of respondents in this consultation. Particularly emphasized was the need for Canada to address aboriginal issues, and in particular to deal with Bill C31, the Indian Act.

Aboriginal participation in the Year will be critical, and one suggestion was to involve the Aboriginal Bar Association in planning. 1998 also marks the year that Nunavut will become part of Canada as a separate territory and this may provide an excellent opportunity for collaboration.

"Indigenous People have the highest rate of suicide, diabetes and other diseases, poverty, sexual abuse, racism and yet do not get the same opportunities in education, jobs and all human rights issues."

"We are talking about Human Rights which exclude addressing issues such as the ethnic cleansing, genocide, land-grabbing etc. We deny certain groups of their traditional way of life. We colonize and Christianize... in the name of professing to address Human Rights we form an ineffective bureaucracy."

"There has to be significant involvement from aboriginal people. We have to convince them that human rights are not just white rights!"

Privacy and Technology

At virtually every round table or focus group meeting, the subject of the Internet arose. Frequently, people were excited by the enormous potential it holds for communicating about rights issues and who is doing what about them - information about abuses, campaigns, lobbies, and education.

Also participants identified an emerging concern about the use of electronic technologies, such as the Internet, to invade the individual's privacy and the need to protect the right to privacy. Alarming increases in the use of the Internet to spread "hate literature" about minority groups is prompting heated debates at senior levels on the prospect of legislative control of these means of communication.

"If we fail to stop hatred from flowing through the channels of our new electronic networks....if we do not stand up to the despots and bullies..then we will face harsh consequences down the road. On the larger landscape of human society, what began as hateful rhetoric may turn into urban terrorism, regional warfare or genocide."

Role of the UN

At all levels in Canada there are questions about the role of the UN and its effectiveness - and indeed the matter was raised at the 52nd session of the Commission on Human Rights. How can Canada and the rest of the world mark the important anniversary of the UDHR in a meaningful and substantive manner ? Suggestions were made that perhaps Canada could invite civil society and governments to Canada in 1998 to examine the role of the UN and civil society. Specific actions could be undertaken, such as an examination of how far governments have come with their respective plans of action following Vienna and Beijing.

"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been and continues to be an instrument which defines our responsibilities even as it binds us together as both citizens and governments, A revitalized commitment to human rights should be the beacon of a common global destiny of opportunity and freedom."

"Canada agrees that human rights should rank among the internal affairs of states - indeed among their highest priorities. The problem is that too often they do not. And that problem is everybody's affair, everyone's concern, as a matter of international law. The sovereign here is humanity. "