The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse takes stock of the year 2012-2013

MONTREAL, Sept. 19, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse's annual report was tabled today at the National Assembly.

"This report outlines the crucial role the Commission plays in Québec society and its work of the last year," said President, Jacques Frémont. He noted however that many challenges remain in protecting and defending rights and freedoms, and the Commission intends to continue working towards a more inclusive society.

In 2012-2013, the Commission submitted fifteen opinions and official comments on legislation and regulations to the government and to members of the National Assembly, some of which were followed or adopted.

The Commission also published several reports, including a snapshot of the underrepresentation of disabled people in public organizations, a follow-up to its report on racial profiling and systemic discrimination of racialized youth and on the duty to accommodate disabled students attending colleges (cégeps), including students who have learning disabilities.

Last year, 1,022 new investigation files were opened by the Commission, 30% of which concerned discrimination based on disability and 25% related to race, colour, ethnic or national origin. Exploitation of elderly or disabled persons accounted for 10 % of the new investigation files. Complaints based on religion represented only 3% of all complaints.

Furthermore, complaints of discrimination based on age and political convictions were on the rise in 2012-2013. More than 40 % of new files were related to employment and here again, the main ground of discrimination was disability, in particular complaints cases of unfair dismissals.

In the last year, a record number of files - 888 - were processed and closed by the Commission. 75% of these files were processed and closed within an average of 174 days. 31% of admissible complaints were forwarded to the mediation service, with a 61% settlement rate.

Moreover, the Commission filed 42 new motions before the Human Rights Tribunal (HRT) and received 52 rulings from all levels of courts, including 27 from the HRT.

2012-2013 Highlights

• The Commission has conducted an investigation on its own initiative, under the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, in 60 files, most of them potential cases of exploitation of elderly persons;
• Racial profiling complaints have risen 52,1% and the Commission won two important rulings on behalf of plaintiffs victim of racial profiling;
• The Commission delivered 413 education and cooperation sessions to community groups, employers and in the education community, among others;
• The Commission adopted an opinion on the duty of the Director of Youth Protection to get a new court order when a child is transferred from housing resource for the duration of an order aimed at ensuring continuity of care and stable relationships and living conditions and won an important ruling confirming this interpretation of the Youth Protection Act.

The report is available on the Commission's Web site at www.cdpdj.qc.ca/Publications/RA_2012_2013.pdf

Contact :

Jean-François Gagnon
514 873-5146 or 1 800 361-6477, ext. 230
[email protected]

SOURCE: Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse

Jean-François Gagnon
514 873-5146 or 1 800 361-6477, ext. 230
[email protected]