The Canadian Race Relations Foundation joins Canadians in celebrating
International Human Rights Day

TORONTO , Dec. 8 /CNW/ - The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) joins Canadians and the international community in celebrating International Human Rights Day. As noted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, the focus of this year's Human Rights Day is "non-discrimination, because discrimination spreads mistrust and humiliation for victims and leads to violence, conflict and discord generally."

The CRRF is committed to the elimination of racism and discrimination in all their forms. "The École Polytechnique massacre, which took place December 6, 1989 in Montreal , Quebec , and incidents of anti-Semitism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, and discrimination against Aboriginal peoples, to name only a few examples, are manifestations of the same problem", said Dr. Ayman Al-Yassini, Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. "As individuals and as civil society our responsibility is to say NO to discrimination no matter how it is manifested whether in terms of gender, age, sex, race, mental or physical disability, and ethnic, religious, linguistic and racial background," Al-Yassini added.

The CRRF calls upon all jurisdictions of government to ensure zero tolerance of discrimination and racism. Only when Canadian laws are applied to the fullest, and commitments to international conventions and treaties are honoured, will all Canadians be able to truly celebrate International Human Rights Day.

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) was founded as part of the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement to shed light on the causes and manifestations of racism, to play a leading role in the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and to bring about a more harmonious Canada . The CRRF has registered charitable status and has Special NGO Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

For further information: Aren Sarikyan, Project Associate, [phone]; Dominique Etienne, Communications, [phone]