2010 Rights and Freedoms Prize - THE COMMISSION DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE ET
DES DROITS DE LA JEUNESSE TO HONOUR THE TOLERANCE FOUNDATION

MONTREAL, Nov. 22, 2010 /CNW Telbec/ - The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse is pleased to announce that the Montreal-based Tolerance Foundation will be awarded the 2010 Rights and Freedoms Prize in recognition of its long-term commitment to the fight against racism.

The Commission will also present a special mention to the Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre for organizing an annual week devoted to raising awareness against racial discrimination.

The award ceremony will be held on Thursday, November 25, 2010 at the Grande Bibliothèque du Québec, in Montreal. The Commission, which held public hearings into racial profiling this past year, has chosen to grant the 2010 Rights and Freedom Prize to an individual or an organization dedicated to the fight against racism.

The jury was chaired by Patricia Rimok, president of the Conseil des relations interculturelles du Québec, and composed of Ronald Boisrond, a well-known filmmaker and a member of the special SPVM bridge-building committee with Montréal-North youth, Gaétan Cousineau, president of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, and Ghislaine Patry-Buisson, a women's rights activist. It reviewed 15 submissions that clearly demonstrated the strong commitment of an increasing number of Québec groups and individuals who have made the fight against racism the main focus of their work.

"Jury members chose to honour these two organizations because they both demonstrated not only a long-term commitment to combat racism, but have also shown innovation and leadership to counter intolerance," said Mrs. Rimok.

The mission of the winner, the Tolerance Foundation, is to prevent, inform and raise awareness about the inherent threat to society of intolerance, prejudice, exclusion, as well as discrimination in all its forms. Using cartoon strips, games, videos and interactive theatre performances, the Foundation's caravans help youth understand that they have a role to play in fighting discrimination, exclusion and intimidation.

With its three caravans, the Tolerance Foundation has raised awareness among more than 300,000 youths aged 11 to 17 throughout Québec, since its creation in 1995.

Special Mention

The Commission will also award a special mention to the Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre. This organization's mission is to work to improve the quality of life of Aboriginals living in an urban setting, and build bridges between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals in Val d'Or.

Since 2000, the Centre has organized the annual Gabriel-Commanda Walk for the elimination of racial discrimination, and promoted the Friendship Declaration between Peoples.

Jury members urge organizations that submitted their candidacies for the prize to pursue their efforts to put an end to entrenched prejudices, and to continue raising awareness about racial discrimination so that each and every citizen has an equal chance to succeed.

The Rights and Freedoms Prize

Since 1998, the Commission has awarded the Rights and Freedoms Prize annually to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. It recognizes the exceptional achievement or commitment of individuals or groups working to defend human rights and of the rights of youth.

For further information:

Julie Lajoye
514 873-5146 ou 1 800 361-6477 ext. 230
[email protected]

For further information:

Julie Lajoye
514 873-5146 ou 1 800 361-6477 ext. 230
[email protected]