February 22, 2017
MEDIA ADVISORY
(Ottawa, ON): Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde and Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Caring Society, are holding a press conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the filing of the historic child welfare complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission and provide an update on activities since the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s decision on January 26, 2016.
DATE: Thursday February 23, 2017
TIME: 9:30 a.m. ET
LOCATION: National Press Theatre
150 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON
The AFN and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society took the extraordinary step of jointly filing a complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission on February 23, 2007, alleging the provision of First Nations child and family services by the Government of Canada was flawed, inequitable and thus discriminatory under the Canadian Human Rights Act. In a landmark decision, the CHRT ruled in January2016 that the federal government is in fact discriminating against First Nations children and families on reserve. The decision further stated that Canada has failed to fully implement Jordan’s Principle, which is meant to ensure equitable access to government services available to other children in Canada.
For more information on the case: www.fnwitness.ca
The Assembly of First Nation is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates
The First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada is a national non-profit organization providing research, policy, professional development for First Nations children, youth, families and organizations.
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For more information please contact:
Alain Garon AFN Bilingual Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext. 382; 613-292-0857 or [email protected]