The Human Rights Committee discuss issues and plan events relating to PSAC’s Indigenous, Persons With Disabilities, LGBTQ2+ and Racially Visible caucus members. Check out these minutes for current actions and events!
Edmonton Human Rights Committee MEETING
7 December 2022 @1800 Zoom/In Person
In attendance:
Charmaine Nelson, Chair (in person)
Devina Hari, Vice Chair
Kim Cardinal, USGE 30168
Carol Morrison, CEIU 30851
Jessica Burylo, UNE 30115 (in person)
PSAC Staff:
Carm Chan, PSAC Representative
Regrets:
Stella Parker, HR Committee Treasurer
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Call to Order / Land Acknowledgement / Harassment Statement
Call to order @ 6:05 PM. Land acknowledgement made sincerely by Charmaine and
Anti Harassment statement read by Charmaine. - Agenda – Adoption:
Approval of the Agenda – unanimous consensus reached - Previous Minutes:
Review and approval of previous minutes agenda – unanimous consensus reached - Report from the Chair – Charmaine
Please be reminded of the following upcoming PSAC conferences:- PSAC Regional Racially Visible Conference Feb 24-27, 2023
- PSAC National Women`s Conference March 28th to April 2, 2023
- PSAC National Young Workers Conference April 21-23, 2023
*The PSAC website has the deadlines and the application forms. - The committee ended up missing the indigenous display at Ikea. We will try to gather to attend as a committee before the end of the year.
- Carm has confirmed that other committees are interested in ordering the Truth and Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action booklets. Marianne has advised that we must order separately. Carm has placed our order for our 40 booklets.
- Committee meet and greet – Charmaine was not able to get a hold of Darlene, thus Dec 8th did not work for the meet and greet event as we did not have the 10-day member call out time required by PSAC for any Committee event. The Committee AGM will be held on Feb 9th, 2023 @ 6pm. We will vote for the committee delegate seat and 2 alternates to the Prairies Regional triennial Convention, and we will vote for all the executive positions for the 2023 Human Rights Committee.
- Financial report – given by Devina.
October is the most recently available bank statement. Opening balance= 2153.26 No expenditures and no receipt of funds. Closing balance = 2153.26 and 81.25 in common shares. - Previous business
- Update on Autism Edmonton Potential Speaker on neurodiversity for a speaking event – Jessica.
- Autism Edmonton can facilitate an “Autism 101” presentation, which is a broad presentation on neurodiversity (Autism, ADHD, OCD, and more) Topics include “what is Autism? How can we support employees, family, friends etc. Activities and question period.
- There could be a small cost – Charmaine advised we offer honorariums for community speakers.
- Talk would be 2 hours or less.
- Can be presented in person, virtually or a combination of both. Open to members. Jessica is training to become a facilitator of this presentation.
- Date Jessica will propose to Autism Edmonton, the dates of Jan 10th and Feb 7th (preferrable for committee) and let us know which works. 630pm-830pm.
- Update on Autism Edmonton Potential Speaker on neurodiversity for a speaking event – Jessica.
- New business
- Charmaine – Committee discussion about potentially advocating for the Pride/trans community in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, Africa. The community is at danger daily because they identify under Pride/trans. The group has tried to discuss with UNHCR (United nations high Commissioner for Refugees) to plead for their safety and protection but have been met with deaf ears. They are helped with basic foods, but so far nothing is done to protect this vulnerable group. How can our committee help?
- Carm mentioned that traditionally, PSAC does not make financial donations, favoring rather what community actions we can do to assist the groups.
- A letter writing campaign. Carm will assist in looking into who we can reach out to at UNHCR and get back to us at our next meeting.
- Charmaine will gather and create a report on –who is involved in this situation? What else is currently being done for this group? What does the group need?
- Charmaine – Committee discussion about potentially advocating for the Pride/trans community in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, Africa. The community is at danger daily because they identify under Pride/trans. The group has tried to discuss with UNHCR (United nations high Commissioner for Refugees) to plead for their safety and protection but have been met with deaf ears. They are helped with basic foods, but so far nothing is done to protect this vulnerable group. How can our committee help?
- Round table:
No other comments by any attendees - Adjournment: 7:08PM
- Next Meeting: TBD after the AGM on February 9th, 2023