/R E P E A T -- AFN National Chief and Dr. Cindy Blackstock to Discuss Canadian Human Rights Complaint against Federal Government on First Nations Child and Family Services: Final Week of Hearings Begins Monday, October 20/

OTTAWA, Oct. 17, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ -Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Ghislain Picard and First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (FNCFCS) Executive Director Dr. Cindy Blackstock will discuss their joint human rights complaint against the federal government for discrimination against First Nations children.  The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) will be hearing final arguments on the Canadian Human Rights complaint next week, starting Monday, October 20.

EVENT:	Press Conference
DATE:	Monday October 20, 2014
TIME:	1:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION:	House of Commons Charles-Lynch Room 130-S

The AFN and the FNCFCS jointly launched a Canadian Human Rights against the Government of Canada on February 27, 2007 regarding the discriminatory provision of child and family services on-reserve.  The joint complaint states that the Government of Canada has a longstanding pattern of providing unequal funding for child welfare services for First Nations children on reserves compared to non-Aboriginal children, resulting in inequitable services.

The CHRT final arguments will be heard from October 20–24, 2014, with a ruling expected in 2015.  More information on the case and the schedule for the Tribunal hearings can be found at: http://www.afn.ca/index.php/en/canadian-human-rights-tribunal

The Assembly of First Nation is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada.  Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

SOURCE: Assembly of First Nations

Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer, 613-241-6789, ext 382; 613-292-0857 or [email protected]; Jenna Young, AFN Communications Officer, 613-241-6789, ext 401; 613-314-8157 or [email protected]