The Centre for Human Rights'
ANNUAL REPORTS
The Centre for Human Rights is pleased to bring you its new online annual report. Interactive and accessible, it provides an overview of the Centre's annual activities and achievements, and enables viewers to easily compare data year over year. This will be the last annual report under the CHR banner. For fiscal year 2016/2017, reporting will commence under a new name, the Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion.
Executive Summary
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) provides policy and procedural guidance, human rights education, and human rights case resolution services for York University students, faculty, and staff.
The CHR reports annually on these services. This interactive annual report / website was launched in 2016 and is the first platform for the York community to view 2015-2016 data.
When reviewing the Centre's reports, it is important to note that due to enhancements in data collection and reporting, the periods of time covered by each report has altered slightly over the past two years. As of 2015-2016, reports cover a 12 month period from May 1- April 30 to align with the University's fiscal year. Reports prior to 2014-2015 report from September 1 - August 31, with the 2014-2015 report covering an eight month period (September 1 - April 30) so that future reports would match the fiscal year. While only the 2014-2015 report is included in this website for comparative purposes, previous reports can still be accessed in a PDF format in the CHR's archive.
“Creating more diverse and inclusive environments isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s imperative for your continued success.”
This year, as part of the University’s Academic and Administrative Review process, the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) was proud to be recognized as offering high quality and sustainable services. Our focus on building a respectful, equitable, diverse and inclusive York University is critical to York’s success as it responds to the dynamic environment in which public sector institutions are immersed.
With each year, the CHR improves upon its ability to progress in our mandate and demonstrate our achievements. Last year, we instituted new tools to track and measure our results, meaning that our annual report information is more robust than ever. We also made a decision to align our annual reporting with our fiscal year. As we transition to this new reporting cycle, our 2014-2015 annual report will only cover an 8 month period (September 1, 2014 – April 30, 2015).
Between September 2014 and April 2015, our efforts centred on developing 8 human rights related policies and procedures at York, receiving and addressing 333 human rights questions and complaints from the York community, and creating and implementing 56 educational sessions that reached over 6,000 people. We also increased the presence of human rights issues within the community through enhanced use of York’s communications channels.
Contact with our office relating to human rights questions and concerns increased by another 20%, adding to the rise that we have seen over the last four years – reaching a total of 53.25% more communication with our case resolution team since 2011-2012.
The work of the Centre was made possible through the unwavering support of York’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Mamdouh Shoukri, the University’s administration, and the tremendous efforts of the CHR team. Thank you for your important work and dedication to human rights here at York University.
Sincerely,
Noël A. J. Badiou
Executive Director
Centre for Human Rights
It was a year of transition and a flurry of activity for the Centre for Human Rights.
The Centre witnessed the departure of its Executive Director, Noël A. J. Badiou after almost 7 years of service. The position was filled on an interim basis by York University educator, disability advocate, and lawyer Marian MacGregor, who was serving as the Clinic Director at Osgoode Hall Law School’s Community and Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP).
During this period, the CHR team continued to address human rights concerns, resolve complaints, and educate the community on best practices toward building a respectful, equitable, diverse, and inclusive campus. The office processed almost 40 matters per month, and over the year held 114 training sessions and presentations. It led or participated in 21 events reaching 2,532 and 2,494 participants, respectively, and it increased its promotional activities substantially, undertaking over a dozen communications activities and making several enhancements to its communication and educational tools.
Of particular significance, the CHR focused efforts on creating and enhancing its training series and resource guides to respond to the needs most frequently expressed to the Centre by the York community. This included new information sheets on accommodation obligations and processes and an emphasis on promoting understanding of sexual violence.
The CHR team continued to enhance its tools to publicize, collect, and analyze data on its initiatives and services. This included the creation of an online annual report that will enhance the public's ability to access information on the Centre's work year-over-year.
As always, the Centre would like to express its thanks for the unwavering support of York’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Mamdouh Shoukri, and the University’s administration.
Case Resolution Services
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) seeks to address and resolve human rights concerns and/or complaints related to provincial human rights legislation and York University human rights policies.
The CHR processes human rights questions and concerns from current York students, faculty, and staff, and works towards a resolution for human rights complaints. In order to understand the data in this section, it is important to know how the CHR classifies its case services and those community members who call us. Click on the "Glossary" tab below to access this information.
Cases are classified into three groups:
1. Complaint: A formal documented complaint filed by an individual.
2. Consultation: A third party interaction with a CHR case advisor; or an interaction between an individual and a CHR case advisor where more than one interaction by the case advisor is required to resolve a human rights concern/question.
3. Enquiry: A one-time interaction between an individual and a CHR case advisor to resolve a human rights concern/question.
At times, the CHR might refer to a Consultation or Enquiry as "non-mandate", meaning that the human right matter discussed was not related to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Various community members contact the CHR and are classified as follows:
1. Complainant: The person filing a human rights complaint or contacting the CHR about a matter affecting them or their unit.
2. Respondent: The person or unit that a complaint is filed against.
Complainants and Respondents are further classified by their affiliation with the University and their reason for contacting the CHR:
1. Faculty: Individual faculty, whether they are contract or tenured who are seeking information about their individual human rights.
2. Faculty Units: Members of a faculty unit who are seeking information on human rights matters related to their units.
3. Staff: Individual staff members who are seeking information about their individual human rights.
4. Staff Units: Members of a staff unit who are seeking information on human rights matters related to their units.
5. Students: Undergraduate or graduate students, including international students, who are seeking information about their individual human rights.
In 2014-2015, the Centre received and processed:
Human Rights Complaints
Human Rights Consultations
Human Rights Enquiries
By Case Ground
The most frequent contact with the office related to concerns or questions about the grounds of disability (29.43%), sexual harassment (8.71%), race (7.51%), creed (7.21%) and gender identity/expression (6.91%). Of the 51 complaints filed, disability constituted just over 43%; race, when combined with place of origin and ethnic origin, constituted just over 25%; and sexual harassment constituted just over 17%.
By Community Group
Of the complaint cases brought to the CHR, students made up the majority of the complainants (76%); the majority of which were directed towards other students (28%) or faculty (49%). Staff were the second largest complainants (17%), which were mainly directed toward other staff.
Complainant (left) - Respondent (right)
of complaints were initiated by faculty
of complaints were initiated by staff
of complaints were initiated by students
of student complaints were directed towards faculty
Complaints
Consultations
Enquiries
Formal complaints against students are addressed through the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
In 2015-2016, the Centre received and processed:
Human Rights Complaints
Human Rights Consultations
Human Rights Enquiries
By Case Ground
The most frequent contact with the office related to concerns or questions about the grounds of disability (26.62%), race-related matters, including creed (20.78%), sexual harassment (13.42%), and LGBTQ*-related matters (6.93%). When solely looking at the 36 complaints filed, disability constituted just over 55%; sexual harassment almost 20%; race-related matters, almost 14%; and sex just over 8%.
By Community Group
Of the 36 complaints received and processed by the CHR, the majority were filed by students and were directed towards faculty (68%). Administrative staff were the second largest complainants, and their complaints were directed toward other administrative staff (75%) or faculty (25%).
Complainant (left) - Respondent (right)
of complaints were initiated by faculty
of complaints were initiated by staff
of complaints were initiated by students
of student complaints were directed towards faculty
Complaints
Consultations
Enquiries
Formal complaints against students are addressed through the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Education Services
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) contributes to a culture of respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion through the provision of human rights education.
This work focuses on ensuring York students, faculty, and staff understand their rights and responsibilities, how to implement human rights policies and procedures, and the University's expectations for its community members. The CHR delivers training online and in-person, develops and disseminates resources, and creates and implements annual human rights related commemorative events and campaigns to raise awareness of human rights on campus.
Training Sessions
The CHR delivered a total of 40 training sessions over a five month period (due to the labour disruption), reaching 725 participants in 2014-2015. Where relevant, training was delivered in partnership with Teaching Commons, Human Resources (Talent Acquisition and Development), union representatives (e.g. CUPE 3903) ad student groups (e.g. York Federation of Students).
Training was customized for specific audiences and core / general training sessions were offered on matters / topics that came to the attention of the CHR most frequently. Training requests were received from various student, faculty and staff groups, including new and returning ones.
Online Training Modules
By the end of the 2014-2015 academic year there were 709 people enrolled in the CHR's online tutorial, Respect, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI). In its third year of implementation, this module uses interactive training methods to teach participants how to better identify and prevent harassment and discrimination based on provincial human rights legislation and the University’s human rights-related policies. Towards of the end of the year, the CHR commenced a review of this module, with the intent to update and streamline it in 2015-2016.
The CHR team also developed a new online module for newly appointed and re-appointed Academic Administrators with the aim of enhancing knowledge of their responsibilities and obligations in supporting respect, equity, diversity and inclusion in their teaching, learning and work spaces.
Events
The CHR held 11 events reaching 5,153 participants this year, including conferences, commemorative days, dialogue sessions, films, presentations and information sessions as follows.
Presentations
Five presentations were conducted for the York community as well as external members to support events or to provide an overview of human rights concepts or specific human rights topics (e.g. accommodations).
Training Sessions
The CHR delivered a total of 100 training sessions in 2015-2016, reaching 2,222 participants. Of particular significance, the CHR launched several training programs this year for specific community members based on the most predominant requests it receives:
Human Rights Professional Development Training Program: Sessions offered for Work Study students and York staff focused on enhancing their understanding of the Ontario Human Rights Code and its implications for the workplace. The training for Managers increased understanding and competencies in accommodations and accessibility, employment equity and retention, and sexual harassment prevention.
REDI (Respect, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Training Program: Designed for York students, staff, and faculty, this series sought to enhance their understanding of (dis)ability, mental health, positive space, race, ethnicity, and sexual violence prevention.
Sexual Violence Prevention and Response: The CHR partnered with Student Leadership and Community Development's Peer Health teams to deliver sessions on sexual consent and healthy relationships to students; offered sexual assault response training for first responders; and partnered with the Sexual Assault Support Services and Leadership to offer WENDO (Women's Self Defense) to the York community.
Orient the Leader: The CHR continued to offer inclusivity training for students leading orientation activities in partnership with the York Federation of Students and Student Leadership and Community Development.
Online Training Modules
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) developed or updated three online modules this year:
Respect, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI): This updated interactive module teaches participants how to better identify and prevent harassment and discrimination based on provincial human rights legislation and the University’s human rights-related policies. Shorter and more compact, it places emphasis on current key human rights areas of most concern to the York community.
Respect in the Workplace: Developed at the request of the Department of Faculty Relations, this new module seeks to enhance Academic Administrators' knowledge of their responsibilities and obligations in supporting a respectful, equitable, diverse, and inclusive campus.
YUStart: Contributions were made to the YU Start online module that orients new undergraduate students to York University. The CHR collaborated with York's University Information Technology and the YU Start team to develop a section on sexual consent and active bystanding.
Events
The CHR held 11 events and supported 10 others, reaching 2494 participants. These initiatives included the launch of a talk-shop series focused on anti-racism, commemorative events for human rights days of significance, the CHR’s annual Inclusion Day conference, film nights, and Pride festivities.
Of particular significance, the CHR co-hosted a public lecture and a policy dialogue focused on racial profiling with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the School of Public Policy and Administration, the Institute for Social Research, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC). Focused on stimulating dialogue and generating relevant research to help inform the development of a new OHRC policy on racial profiling, the dialogue was an invitation-only event for about 75 of the country’s leading experts on racial discrimination and racial profiling, and key stakeholders from community organizations and civil society.
The CHR also supported several community events held by student groups, such as the Critical Disabilities Studies Annual Conference and an academic conference focused on genocide hosted by the Armenian Students Association.
Presentations
The CHR made a total of 14 human rights-related presentations this year. In total, 310 people attended, including York students, faculty, and staff and two groups of conference participants: the Canadian Association for the Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment in Higher Education Conference and the Council of Ministers of Education of Canada Conference - Bilingual Exchange Programs.
Community Resources
The CHR continued to produce and update fact sheets and guides to increase the York community’s understanding of key human rights topics. It produced or enhanced eight publications, and launched new webpages to provide an array of resources for York students, faculty and staff focused on key areas identified by the York community.
Table: List of Community Resources
- Understanding Hate Propaganda: A Guide for Students, Faculty & Staff (new)
- Understanding Sexual Harassment: A Guide for Students, Faculty, & Staff (updated)
- Understanding Sexual Assault: A Guide for Students, Faculty, and Staff (new)
- Understanding Gender Expression/Gender Identity: A Guide for Students, Faculty, & Staff (Inclusive Language) (new)
- Accommodating Creed (Religion): A Guide for Students, Faculty, & Staff (updated)
- Accommodating Disability: A Guide for Students, Faculty, & Staff (updated)
- Accommodating Family: A Guide for Students, Faculty, & Staff (updated)
- York Has Pride brochure (LGBTQ* resources on campus).
- Webpages: Accessibility & Accommodations, Gender/LGBTQ*/Positive Space, Sexual/Gender-Based Violence, and Anti-Racism (new)
Campaigns & Public Service Announcements
The CHR undertook 14 initiatives to assist in building awareness of human rights on campus. With the support of York University’s Marketing and Creative Services, the CHR revived its "Share Ideas. Respect Differences." campaign, now calling it the "Inclusion Campaign", and rebranding it with the words "Share Ideas. Embrace Differences." It builds upon an initiative launched earlier in the year, where posters with the words "Committed to an Inclusive Space" were created and posted to designate work or public spaces as welcoming to all persons.
The CHR also created:
- A campaign focused on educating the community about what constitutes sexual consent.
- Monthly TV screen images and posters for the academic year focused on key code grounds to raise the community’s understanding of the provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
- Public service announcements relating to York’s “no tolerance” stance on discriminatory and harassing behaviours and the concept that “cultures are not costumes".
- an e-card project to commemorate International Women’s Day 2016, whereby women-identified persons working to enhance gender parity or taking on a parental role could receive a thank you card for their efforts.
Policy and Procedural Guidance
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) seeks to enhance York University's policies and procedures by providing guidance to its administration in their development and implementation.
CHR staff participate in pan-University committees and working groups to apply a human rights lens to their activities. They also review, develop, and make recommendations on human rights-related policies and procedures to ensure their adherence to provincial legislation and best practices in human rights.
By participating in approximately 40 pan-University committees and working groups, the CHR made contributions to the following initiatives, most of which had commenced in previous years:
Policies
- Refining the Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention and Response Policy as part of the Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention and Response Policy working group.
- Continuing work on a comprehensive human rights policy for consideration by the President’s Advisory Committee on Human Rights that will bring together all of the protected grounds in one place.
- Contributing to a Framework for a Mentally Healthy Campus with our colleagues on the Mental Health and Wellness Steering Group’s subcommittee.
Procedures
- Creating the Gender Expression/Identity Customer Service Guidelines for the athlete facilities to ensure that all transgender and other gender nonconforming York community members are treated with equity, dignity and respect with regards to the provision and use of these facilities and services at York University
- Advancing on a one step procedure for preferred name change request for reasons of gender identity/expression in collaboration with Human Resources, Faculty Relations, University Information Technology and the Registrar’s Office.
- Participating in updating the Employment Equity Survey and supporting a process to advance Employment Equity goals for nonacademic staff with the Talent Acquisition and Development Office.
- Commencing the creation of a diversity survey to assist in better understanding the actual diversity on York campuses in partnership with the Talent Acquisition and Development Office.
- Conducting training sessions for York community members related to the implementation of provincial human rights legislation and York University human rights policy and procedures.
By participating in 36 York committees and working groups, the CHR made contributions to the following:
Policies
- Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention and Response Procedures (Policy approved February 2015) through participation on the Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention and Response Policy working group.
- Policy Framework for a Mentally Healthy Campus through participation in the Mental Health and Wellness Steering Group’s subcommittee
- Drafting a comprehensive human rights policy for consideration by the President’s Advisory Committee on Human Rights (PACHR) that will bring together all of the protected grounds in one place.
Procedures and Tools
- Employment Equity and Diversity Self-Identification Surveys with Talent Acquisition and Development.
- Review of University’s Procedures for dealing with Complaints of Discrimination or Harassment
- Gender Identity/Gender Expression - Guidelines for Customer Service (Athletics)
- Draft standard operating procedure for identifying and responding to requests for accommodations in relation to accessible furniture.
- IIRP Campus Experience Working Group Preliminary Report, that provides recommendations in relation to the review, development and maintenance of public space on campus.
The CHR continued to chair the President’s Advisory Committee on Human Rights (PACHR) and the President’s Sustainability Council – Sub Committee Social Justice and Human Rights and to house the SexGen York Committee and Enable York.
Of particular significance was the launch of the Race Inclusion and Supportive Environments (RISE) Working Group. Housed at the CHR, RISE aims to ensure that race-related discrimination, equity, and inclusion are brought to the forefront of conversations at York.
Administration
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) strives for robust administrative systems to support its three services.
Each year, the CHR's administrative processes strengthen, enabling it to better promote its services and track and report on the difference it makes.
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) continued to focus on its strategic directions and outreach to the York community. A few highlights are noted below:
Strategic and Operational Planning
The CHR, like other administrative units and faculties on campus, participated in the academic and administrative review process undertaken by the University. It was pleased to rank high in service quality and sustainability. The CHR increased its Education Team by one member, to assist in the planning and implementation of human rights events. The team also commenced its integrated resource planning (IRP) in the latter part of the year as the previous IRP timeframe came to an end.
Outreach and Communications
The Diversity Peer Education Team (DPET) and Men’s Team continued to reach out to the York community to engage students, faculty and staff in programming and increase their awareness of CHR services. DPET regularly tabled in Vari Hall and at York University events such as York Fest while The Men’s Team built up a significant online presence to engage students on issues around masculinity and gender-based violence.
Monitoring and Evaluation
The CHR continued to fine-tune its new data tracking systems to better manage case files and to collect data on all its programming in order to inform operations and enhance our reports to the community about its work.
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) made significant efforts to enhance its operational planning, and increase its outreach and service promotion.
Strategic and Operational Planning
The CHR team created a new integrated resource plan, with the extensive participation of all its team. Finalized in the fall of 2015, the new plan was in full implementation by the new fiscal year.
Outreach and Communications
Typically, the CHR has relied on student support to promote its services as a form of student engagement and to educate students about human rights matters:
The Diversity Peer Education Team (DPET): Focused on advertising the CHR's services to the student population and educating them on human rights matters, this student volunteer arm of the CHR was restructured based on DPET membership feedback in 2014-2015. The new structure was tested in 2015-2016.
The Men's Team: Focused on addressing sexual/gender-based violence, this team underwent an internal review in 2015-2016.
As a result of both teams' membership feedback, it was decided that these teams will cease operations as the CHR creates a more effective mechanism for student engagement.
Further analysis of CHR's promotional tools and mechanisms was conducted, resulting in enhancements as follows:
Table: List of Promotional Tool Enhancements
- Revised the CHR website and added dedicated pages to key code grounds.
- Revised CHR content in the YUStart module (undergraduate student orientation module) revised.
- Contributed to campus calendars (Graduate and undergraduate, York Federation of Students)
- Developed new list serves and mailing lists and regularly used email notifications.
- Created new office signage and tabling displays, including an infographic on accessing CHR services.
- Tabled bi-weekly in the Red Zone and at York events (e.g. YorkFest), and postered across campus.
- Transitioned the CHR newsletter content to social media platforms/emails and the York TV Screens.
- Launched a student human rights award (REDI Award).
- Contributed to YFile, the York University staff online/e-newsletter (20 articles)
- Continued membership with the Ontario University Sexual Violence Network, Employment Equity Practitioners network, Canadian Association for Prevention of Discrimination & Harassment in Higher Education (CAPDHHE), Canadian Association of College & University Student Services (CACUSS)
Monitoring and Evaluation
The CHR continued to enhance its reporting mechanisms, such as commencing the development of an online annual report to increase the accessibility of the data and `corresponding analysis. The CHR's data collection tools and tracking mechanisms also continued to be fine-tuned, including tweaking the way the CHR classifies its case resolution services data.
Trends & Analysis
The Centre for Human Rights has seen various trends over the past few years as they relate to human rights matters and contact with the office.
It is anticipated that in future years, the CHR will be in a position to report more trends as its annual data is analyzed.
Matter Trends, 2011 — 2016
Disability is the most common matter coming forward from the York community, most often in relation to course work or classroom accommodations. Race and race-related, sexual harassment, and LGBTQ*-related grounds are the next most frequently received matters being processed. As a result, the CHR's education services have been aligned to these core areas, with training sessions specifically addressing them.
