WINNIPEG – The role of unions in fighting racism and all forms of discrimination will be highlighted this week in Winnipeg. The Canadian Union of Public Employees is hosting labour and social activists from across the country at the CUPE National Human Rights Conference, February 5 – 8, at the RBC Convention Centre.
“Defending human rights is at the very core of what unions do every day. While we’ve made strides, we still have much work to do to end discrimination in our society, as evident by the recent attention on the discrimination experienced by Aboriginal people here in Winnipeg,” says Paul Moist, national president of CUPE. “This conference will be a forum to discuss the discrimination still faced by women, people of colour, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTTI community, and Aboriginal people, and to share strategies on advance equality for all.”
The conference will kick off Thursday night with guest speaker NDP MP Romeo Saganash, followed by three more days of panel discussions and workshops with a diverse group of activists sharing their experiences and insight on advancing human rights in Canada and around the world.
Panelists include: author and commentator Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair; human rights activist and newly elected Toronto School Board Trustee Ausma Malik; NDP MP Jinny Sims; Chairperson of the Manitoba Human Rights Board of Commissioners Yvonne Peters; and Manitoba Minister of Jobs and the Economy Kevin Chief. A complete list of panelists and conference agenda are available on cupe.ca.
Over 500 participants are anticipated to take part in the conference that will include a visit to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Media are invited to attend.
For additional information, contact:
Greg Taylor
CUPE Media Relations
613-818-0067
gtaylor@cupe.ca