For Immediate Release
December 10, 2010

(Ottawa) – The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) and Canada Without Poverty join the global community in celebrating December 10th as international Human Rights Day by honouring the work of human rights defenders worldwide who act to end discrimination.

“Today, we celebrate universal human rights enshrined in international declarations and the people dedicated to upholding these hard-won rights,” stated Darlene MacDonald, President of CASW. “Human rights defenders often place themselves at great personal risk in selfless acts to protect the rights and affirm the dignity of people they may never meet or know.”

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, reputedly the single most translated document in the world, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The Declaration is the anchor for the growing body of international human rights law. From it have arisen a number of international human rights treaties and covenants, which are legally binding upon states that have ratified them and fiercely upheld in principle and practice by human rights defenders the world over. Canadians from both inside and outside of government have proudly supported the drafting of this growing body of international human rights law, while urging other nations to commit to upholding their principles and values.

Regrettably, in recent years Canada has rapidly developed a reputation for domestic legislative, policy and budgetary agendas that diminish the human rights of its own citizens. As a result, a growing international consensus is demanding that Canada address its own failures to reduce systematic poverty and discrimination. To do this, Canada needs to adopt a comprehensive national plan to address the disproportionate impact of poverty on Canada’s most vulnerable populations, including Aboriginal peoples, women, people of colour, and people with disabilities.

“Human rights defenders speak up against discrimination and oppression, and seek to prevent human rights violations and assist the victims of such violations,” stated Rob Rainer, Executive Director of Canada Without Poverty. “They advocate and educate while holding to account perpetrators of human rights abuses and those complicit in the denial of human rights. They are freedom fighters in the truest possible sense.”

The CASW is a federation of nine provincial and one territorial social work organizations. It provides a national leadership role in strengthening and advancing the social work profession in Canada. Founded in 1971, Canada Without Poverty is a charitable, non-partisan organization working to eradicate poverty in Canada as a human rights obligation.

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For more information contact:
Darlene MacDonald
President, CASW 
(613) 729-6668 

or

Rob Rainer
Executive Director, Canada Without Poverty
(613) 789-0096