2010 Rights and Freedom Prize - The Commission des droits de la personne et
des droits de la jeunesse focuses on the fight against racism

MONTREAL, May 13 /CNW Telbec/ - The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, which has made racial profiling the focus of its work this year, will award its 2010 Rights and Freedom Prize to an individual or an organization dedicated to the fight against racism.

"The Commission invites all institutions or individuals to draw attention to their work by submitting a nomination for an individual or an institution who deserve recognition for their commitment to fight racial discrimination," said Gaétan Cousineau, president of the Commission.

Since 1998, the Commission has awarded the Rights and Freedoms Prize each year to an organization or an individual as a public recognition for exceptional achievement or commitment to the defence of human rights and freedoms and of the rights of youth. The Prize is traditionally awarded at a ceremony in Montreal on the occasion of the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on December 10.

How to submit a nomination

Mr. Cousineau said it is important to keep in mind that many groups and institutions in Québec contribute to the fight against racism and discrimination.

"We want to acknowledge their commitment and we are hoping that many individuals and organizations will submit their candidacy," stated Mr. Cousineau.

The rules for the Rights and Freedoms Prize have recently been revised to make the process more user-friendly.

In a sustainable development effort, the Commission is urging individuals and institutions to submit nominations either by e-mail, on CD or a memory stick. However it will continue to accept nominations by mail.

Institutions or individuals who wish to submit a candidacy must send the duly completed nomination form along with a CV or an organizational profile, a letter describing the nominees, their work and why they merit the Prize. Nomination forms and additional information are available on the Commission's website at www.cdpdj.qc.ca.

The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, September 10, 2010. Completed nomination forms along with the required materials can be hand-delivered to the Commission's headquarters located at:

    
    Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
    Attention : Julie Lajoye
    360 rue Saint-Jacques, 2nd floor
    Montréal, QC H2Y 1P5
    [email protected]
    

For more information, please contact Julie Lajoye at 514 873-5146 or 1 800 361-6477 ext. 230 or at [email protected].

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For further information: Julie Lajoye, [phone], 1-800-361-6477 ext. 230, [email protected]