Human Rights Committee

Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society Human Rights Committee

With the recent escalation of racism, in particular anti-Asian Racism, the VNCS has formed a  Human Rights Committee (HR Committee) to focus our efforts to counter this disturbing trend.  The VNCS HR Committee was approved by the VNCS Board on May 1, 2022.  The VNCS HR Committee will:

Advocate for the JC community on HR issues.

  • Support members who have experienced discrimination.

Educate our members and the public on human rights issues that affect the JC Community.

  • Ensure VNCS members are aware of discrimination and its effects.

Create alliances with other racialized groups and organizations.

  • Liaise with other regional and national HR committees to coordinate activities and resources.
  • Advocate for other communities to build mutual support systems.
  • Align with Truth and Reconciliation to support decolonization.

Raise the profile of the VNCS HR Committee.

  • Increase membership on the committee.

Encourage an equity, diversity, and inclusion approach to our society’s meetings, events, and activities.

  • Provide all members with fair and contextually appropriate opportunities and resources for equitable participation (equity).
  • Recognize collective differences and similarities that include individual and organizational characteristics, values, beliefs, experiences, backgrounds, and behaviors (diversity).
  • Promote the full participation and sense of belonging of every member (inclusion).

RESOURCES and REFERENCE MATERIAL

Racism in Greater Victoria: A community Report
This report, published in May, 2021, was produced by the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria and the Greater Victoria Local Immigration Partnership (GVLIP) .

The report addresses four significant findings:

  • Racism in Victoria is real with 71% of Indigenous, Black, Asian or other Persons of Colour reporting that they personally experienced racism in the last five years;
  • Racism harms – 70% of racialized respondents reported that they feel undervalued, isolated and unsafe in Victoria because of their race;
  • Racism acts as a barrier to the inclusion of immigrants; and
  • Finally, deliberate and thoughtful action is needed to combat racism at all levels with a strong call on governments, institutions and organizations to do the heavy lifting in creating systemic and structural.

This 54-page report outlines in detail the issues of racism the Greater Victoria community faces, along with analysis and recommendations for positive action.

Download the Report.

 Community Response Protocol Against Racism and Hate

This Report was produced by the Greater Victoria Local Immigration Partnership.  It provides protocols or guidelines on how to respond to hate and prejudice encounters.  It covers hate-motivated crimes, discrimination, racial and social profiling, hate on social media https://vihrc.com/and internet platforms, hateful graffiti and vandalism and in a more limited fashion micro-aggression.

Download the Report.

Other Support Resources

The following organization provide a wealth of information on racism, hate and discrimination including support programs and material.  Some of these organizations focus on Anti-Asian racism.

Places to Report Incidents of Racism, Hate or Discrimination

It is widely recognized that racism, hate and discrimination incidents are under reported.  Why  you should report a racist incident.

For a variety of reasons, the vast majority of racist incidents go unreported.

It is important to report racism:

  • Because if you don’t do so, it stays invisible.
  • Because we need to take racism seriously.
  • To change from a culture where people don’t know what to do about racism and give a voice to those affected by it.
  • To get a better idea of the extent and nature of racism in BC, how often racist incidents occur and who is experiencing racism in BC.
  • To understand more about different kinds of racism in BC.
  • In some cases, if you are willing, to take action against the people responsible.
  • To devise effective local strategies for combating racism.
  • To inform our arguments for stronger anti-racist policies by all levels of Government.
  • To collect the information to make reports which help us lobby for better protection against racism.

Remember If you or someone else is in immediate danger call: 911.

The province of BC will be creating a racist incident hotline in the near future. It will not be operated by the police and will be offering services in multiple languages. Residents will be able to report racist incidents and receive support and referrals. It will not replace emergency response services. For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021AG0054-000808

In the meantime there are a number of Web sites and organizations where you can report a racist incident and receive support.

 General Incidents.

Incidents in a particular sector or profession.

Report discrimination in health care:

Patient Quality Care Review VIHA

Report discrimination in schools:

ERASE: expect repeat & a safe education (students can report anonymously)

Camosun College (students can report here)

Royal Roads University (students & employees can report here)

UVIC (students can report here)

The BC Association for Clinical Counsellors   (BCACC)

Reporting a Hate Crime to Local Authorities.

Central Saanich Police

Oak Bay Police

Victoria Police

Saanich Police

Report Hate Crimes works with local police investigating hate crimes, for non emergency questions or resources.

BC Hate Crimes

 

Complications and hesitations around involving the police.

People who are targeted by hate might be hesitant or fearful about involving the police or RCMP due to:

  • history of colonial violence
  • recurring reports of police brutality in Canada
  • individuals own experiences with law enforcement

To file a complaint about the police, go to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC)

To file a complaint about the RCMP, go to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC)

 

Places to find mental health providers & professional counselling:

310Mental Health Support

Free & confidential service 24/7, 365 days of the year

  • 310-6789 (no need to dial area code)

The BC Association for Clinical Councellors (BCACC)

Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees (VICCIR) (sliding scale rates)