Event Details

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights & the Faculty of Law of McGill University present a Special Forum on Race, Discrimination and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in North America.

The chair, Commissioner José de Jesús Orozco Henríquez (Mexico, rapporteurship on human rights defenders), Commissioner Rose-Marie Belle Antoine (St. Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago, rapporteurship on the Rights of Persons of African Descent and Against Racial Discrimination) and Commissioner Dinah Shelton (U.S., rapporteurship on the rights of indigenous peoples) will be in attendance.

This event is supported by the Faculty of Law and the Labour Law and Development Research Laboratory.

Registration is free: please email Mr. Hilaire Sobers (osobers@oas.org). Registration will also be accepted on the day of the event, space permitting.

Agenda
FRIDAY, 22 November 2013
8:30 – 9:00 AM Registration of participants

9:00 – 9:30 AM Opening remarks:

Dean Daniel Jutras, Faculty of Law, McGill University
Commissioner José de Jesús Orozco Henríquez, President, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
9:30 – 11:00 AM Keynote speech: Setting the stage – an overview of race, discrimination and ESC in North America

Commissioner Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, IACHR Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons of African Descent and Against Racial Discrimination Head – IACHR Unit on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Discussants:

Prof. David Austin, Vanier College
Prof. Joanne St. Lewis, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Ms. Maria Clara Galvis – Due Process of Law Foundation
11: 00 – 11:15 Break

11:15 – 12:45 PM Race and the criminal justice system

Presenters:

Mr. Fo Niemi, Centre for Research and Action on Race Relations
Mr. Carlos Quesada, Global Rights
Ms. Katya Salazar, Due Process of Law Foundation
Prof. Alana Klein, McGill University
12:45 – 2:15 PM LUNCH

2:30 – 4:00 PM Discrimination against indigenous peoples in North America

Chair and Commentator:

Commissioner Renée Dupuis, Vice-President, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
Presenter

Commissioner Dinah Shelton, IACHR Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
Discussants:

Prof. Bernard Duhaime, Université du Québec à Montréal
Representative of the Native Women’s Association of Canada
Prof. Kirsten Anker, McGill University
4:00 – 4:15 PM Break

4:15 - 5:45 PM Race and discrimination in matters of health, housing and education

Presenters:

Prof. Grace-Edward Galabuzi, Ryerson University
Ms. Margaret Parsons, African Canadian Legal Clinic
Prof. Martin Gallié, Université du Québec à Montréal
SATURDAY, 23 November 2013
9:00 – 10:30 AM Race discrimination in the workplace

Chair and commentator:

Prof. Adelle Blackett, Faculty of Law, McGill University & Commissioner, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
Discussants:

Prof. Marie-Thérèse Chicha, Université de Montréal
Ms. Natalicia Tracy, National Domestic Workers Alliance
Prof. Dalia Gesualdi-Fecteau, Université du Québec à Montréal
10:30 – 10:45 Break

10:45 – 12:15 PM Race and religious accommodation in the workplace

Chair and commentator:

Mr. Jacques Frémont, President, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
Discussants:

Prof. Vrinda Narain, Faculty of Law, McGill University
Ms. Pearl Eliadis, lawyer, human rights expert
Mr. Julius Grey, lawyer, human rights expert
Mr. Mohamed Jama, Midaynta Community Services
12:30 -1:00 PM Final Reflections