CJC News Release: COMBATING HATE, PROTECTING RIGHTS TOP CONCERNS

CJC, Pacific Region Launches Ambitious Three-Year Agenda

VANCOUVER, B. C., March 24, 2005…A reinvigorated effort is needed to confront and combat bias and hate-motivated crimes in British Columbia. That was one of the major themes evident when Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region released its Public Affairs Action Agenda today. The 64-page triennial document acts as a summary of CJCPR priorities and guides the ongoing human rights work of the organization over the next three years, including a continued push for restoration of funding to the provincial Hate Crime Team.

“The issues in this ambitious agenda are priorities for Jewish Canadians, but like so much of our work, they affect all Canadians,” said Mark Weintraub, Chair of Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region. “We are involved with partner organizations on genocide prevention and awareness, social services, interfaith dialogues and issues of poverty in our region.”

The Public Affairs Action Agenda 2004 - 2007 identifies six areas of particular concern, including Hate and Bias Crime; Hate Propaganda; Holocaust Education; Human Rights Protections in B.C.; Multiculturalism; and Affordable Housing. Each section includes background briefing, a summary of the issue’s current status, and recommendations for action.

The recommendations spelled out by the Public Affairs Action Agenda 2004 - 2007 include a call on the provincial government to fully fund the province’s Hate Crime Team; intergovernmental cooperation on monitoring and combating hate propaganda; ensuring that Holocaust education remains part of B.C.’s required curriculum; the establishment of an information and advisory office within the provincial human rights apparatus; improved links between multicultural stakeholder groups; and increased funding for affordable housing, among other specific actions.

“The Action Agenda is the blueprint for our work over the coming years,” said Tony DuMoulin, a senior officer of Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region. “This is what we stand for, what we are working toward as part of our ongoing mandate. It addresses the wide-ranging and progressive social justice goals we seek as the democratic representative of Canadian Jewry.”

The CJCPR Public Affairs Action Agenda 2004 - 2007 is available in full online by clicking on http://www.cjc.ca/docs/RD/177_PAAA 2005.pdf - or writing this address in the address line of your browser.

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Contact:
Erwin Nest, Executive Director
Suite 201-950 West 41st Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 2N7
Tel: 604-257-5101
Fax: 604-257-5131
E-mail: erwinn@cjc.ca

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