Spot has always offered a safe, secure way for individuals to document incidents and send inquiries to the Yukon Human Rights Commission. Spot 2020 retains the documenting and reporting features of the original Spot, while making several key improvements. Specifically, Spot 2020 is:

• Bilingual in French and English
• Designed to help people recall one issue at a time and set out their account clearly
• Better able to reflect individual situations

Spot 2020 makes it easier than ever to submit an inquiry, or to simply save a record of your experience. Users can save a record themselves, or send it to the Commission for safekeeping.

“Spot 2020 makes it easier than ever before for individuals to document or enquire about incidents of harassment or discrimination in their workplace. The ability for the subjects of harassment or witnesses to harassment to make a free, confidential, timestamped record of their experience from anywhere there is internet is an invaluable tool for all Yukoners. Spot 2020 will help further the Commission’s goal of equitable, respectful workplaces for all,” says Gavin Gardiner, Co-Chair of the Yukon Human Rights Commission.

Cofounded by Canadian psychological scientist Dr. Julia Shaw, Spot uses a science-driven, evidence-based approach that is rooted in best practices for interviewing people about highly emotional events.

“The Yukon Human Rights Commission is setting itself as a global leader in online reporting, by embracing the practical use of artificial intelligence. By using Spot and working with us to continue to make it the best fit possible for Yukoners, the Commission enables higher quality reporting and improved accessibility,” says Dr. Julia Shaw.

Spot 2020 is available 24/7 online and can be used on mobile phones. Spot 2020 starts with a confidential, anonymous online chat with a bot (an artificial intelligence tool) to document what happened. From there, individuals save their private report as a secure, timestamped document. They can then choose whether to also submit it to the Yukon Human Rights Commission, either as an inquiry or simply as a way to save a record in a safe place. A Duty Officer with the Commission follows up on all inquiries, including those received through Spot.

Residents of Yukon can still visit the Commission in person at 215-305 Main Street, phone us at 867-667-6226, email info@yukonhumanrights.ca, or reach out to us on Facebook.

The post Spot A.I. tool for documenting harassment and discrimination receives major updates appeared first on Yukon Human Rights Commission.

Birju has extensive academic and practical experience in the field of human rights. He was awarded an LL.B. (with Honours) by the University of Wales in Aberstwyth, a Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Legal Skills by the City University of London and an LL.M. in Public International Law by the London School of Economics and Political Science. In addition, Birju has spent time studying at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, Cambridge University and the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Since 2017 he has been the Assistant Regional Director with the Alberta Human Rights Commission where he had a wide range of duties including providing oversight and supervision on the Alberta Commission’s investigation and conciliation programmes, delivering educational workshops and providing advice to other senior executives on a wide array of legislative, political and regulatory matters. Before taking that position, he worked as a Legal Research Associate for the Director of the Alberta Commission’s Legal Counsel, was a teaching fellow at the Department of Law, School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London and was the Director of Legal Operations, International Law at the Syrian Legal Development Programme under the auspices of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

We are very happy to have Birju staring with us as Director of the Commission and we look forward to the experience and the expertise that he will bring to our work under the Human Rights Act and to our major initiative, funded by the Department of Justice Canada, on Workplace Sexual Harassment. I look forward to introducing him to the public at the Yukon Human Rights Commission‘s annual celebration of International Human Rights Day which will take place on Thursday December 10th, 2020 and which will be modified this year to ensure compliance with all Covid-19 prevention guidelines.

I’d also like to thank both Lesley McCullough who has acted as Director for the past ten months and former Director, Jessica Lott-Thompson, for their contributions to the Commission.

– Gavin Gardiner, Co-Chair

The post New Director for Yukon Human Rights Commission appeared first on Yukon Human Rights Commission.

The Yukon Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is partnering with employers, governments and other stakeholder organisations to share knowledge, deliver training, and develop tools to address the problem of workplace sexual harassment in Yukon. With funding provided by the Government of Canada, the goal of this major five-year initiative is to lead a cultural shift on the subject of workplace sexual harassment in the Yukon. The focus of this project compliments the work the Commission already does in investigating and resolving sexual harassment complaints throughout the territory, as well as its rights promotion work.

In Canada, approximately 19% of women and 13% of men report experiencing harassment in the workplace(1). In Yukon we have very little data but, since its founding in 1987, the Commission has regularly received complaints about workplace sexual harassment. The new initiative aims to develop a culture in Yukon in which employers, employees, and the general public are aware of what workplace sexual harassment is, of their rights with regards to workplace sexual harassment, and have the tools necessary to prevent it and know how to address it when it does arise.

The project will use customized training and practical tools developed in collaboration with partner organizations to raise awareness about the issues created by workplace sexual harassment in general, and to inform about the law relating to workplace sexual harassment in particular. The goal is to develop shared, practical, and effective approaches to this continuing issue. Training goals will be set with partners and periodic surveys will be undertaken to establish the baseline of the public’s knowledge on the issue and the degree of the culture shift over the life of the initiative. A major public conference on the subject of workplace sexual harassment is being planned for March, 2021, as well as 2023.

“Our goal is to bring the Yukon community together and show everyone that no matter who they are or what their workplace role is – whether they are a government or a private company, a boss, a brand-new employee, or a customer – everyone has a role to play in eradicating workplace sexual harassment.”

Gavin Gardiner, Co-Chair, Yukon Human Rights Commission

Quick Facts

• The Commission is working with First Nations, municipalities, employers’ organizations, unions, advocacy groups, chambers of commerce, women’s organizations and a number of other groups.
• The Commission will develop generic training and tools such as workplace sexual harassment policies, investigation guides and FAQs for employees and managers. It will then work with partners to customize tools so they best suit the partner’s situation.
• The initiative started in July 2019 and will end in March 2024. During that time there will be two major conferences bringing Yukoners together to discuss the issue of sexual harassment in Yukon workplaces. If your organization or workplace sees workplace sexual harassment as an issue or wishes to be proactive in prevention and we haven’t contacted you, please reach out to the Yukon Human Rights Commission.

(1) 2018 Statistics Canada harassment in the workplace survey

The post Towards a Yukon Without Workplace Sexual Harassment appeared first on Yukon Human Rights Commission.

Right now, people in our territory, across our nation, and around the world are standing up for their human rights and the rights of others. In some places, people face violent repression for doing so. The Yukon Human Rights Commission recognizes and acknowledges that important institutions in our society are grounded in, and often perpetuate, historic systemic discrimination. The legacy of systemic discrimination is unfair and unjust, and continues to burden some in Yukon while benefitting others.

Identifying and eliminating discrimination involves conversations and changes that are difficult and can be uncomfortable. For those who experience discrimination, breaking silences and demanding equality can be dangerous in ways that others with greater privilege may find difficult to understand and respond to. Every one of us has a part in eliminating discrimination. With a mandate under the Yukon Human Rights Act to promote equality and diversity, the Commission is here to support Yukoners in opposing all forms of prohibited discrimination.

The post Statement appeared first on Yukon Human Rights Commission.