Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC

Through legislation and collective agreements, educators are entitled to workplaces that are safe and free of harassment and that provide an environment in which diversity is respected. FPSE members care deeply about equality and social justice, not only in our working lives, but also in society at large. The Human Rights & International Solidarity Committee works on strategies for achieving equality in our institutions and in our communities. FPSE representatives receive regular training on human rights law, and FPSE's Annual General Meeting offers participants an annual opportunity to explore current rights issues.

• Committee Members
• Policy Statement
• Responsibilities
• Terms of Reference
• Human Rights Weblinks
• Member Resources
• Committee Meeting Calendar

Policy Statement:

• To promote human rights protection and education among faculty and staff, students and administrators.
• To join with existing human rights groups within the community for the purpose of exchange of information and the promotion of strengthened human rights protection in BC.
• To preserve and enhance fundamental standards of humanity, peace and human rights legislation, on the national as well as the international level.
• As peace is essential to ensuring the quality of life, to work cooperatively with national and international NGOs and labour organizations whose mandate it is to promote human rights worldwide.

Responsibilities:

1. To encourage the formation of an active Human Rights Committee in each local.
2. To ensure that sufficient human rights protection is available to members through improvement of provisions of collective agreements and the establishment of policies in colleges and institutes.
3. To help members utilize existing human rights legislation, in conjunction with the collective agreement, to prevent discrimination.
4. To provide resources and education on human rights legislation and issues.
5. To join with other groups/individuals in the community to support issues of mutual interest.
6. To liaise with the locals’ other committees on matters concerning human rights.
7. To monitor the progress of human rights protection in the colleges and institutes.
8. To liaise with local, provincial, national and international organizations which advocate for international solidarity on global justice and human rights issues.
9. To inform and educate members on linkages between local and international human rights and international solidarity issues.
10. To advise the Presidents’ Council on human rights and international solidarity issues.
11. To advocate for international solidarity on global justice and human rights issues.
12. To appoint two members to the International Solidarity Fund Committee.

Terms of Reference:

Reporting to: Reports regularly to the FPSE President and the Presidents’ Council.

Composition: The Human Rights & International Solidarity Committee is composed of one designated representative from each local. The Non-Regular Faculty Committee may appoint one person to the Committee.

Term of Appointment: Locals shall endeavour to elect or appoint representatives for a two year term.

Meetings: Such meetings as are required to fulfill its responsibilities, limited only by the funding allocated to the Committee. The Committee may substitute or include a workshop or conference for a meeting.

Chairperson: The Committee shall elect a new Chairperson at the last meeting of the Committee held prior to the convening of the Annual General Meeting and Convention.

The Committee shall endeavour to elect a Chairperson who has served on the Committee a previous term as a local representative.

The Chairperson or designate shall have observer status at meetings of the Presidents’ Council with voice but no vote. The responsibility of the Chairperson includes attendance by the Chairperson or designate at the Presidents’ Council meeting immediately subsequent to a meeting of the Committee or upon request of the FPSE President.

The Chairperson shall attend the Annual General Meeting and Convention. The Convention shall provide orientation and planning opportunities for Committee Chairpersons and facilitate their meeting as a group.

The duly elected Chairperson of the Committee shall continue to serve as Chairperson where the Chairperson ceases to be a designated local representative to the Committee.

Observers: By invitation of the Chair.

Quorum: A majority of locals.

Voting: Positions adopted by consensus among designated representatives; otherwise by simple majority of those voting (By-Law #6).

Funds: As allocated in the annual budget.

Human Rights Policy and Legislation

• BC Human Rights Coalition
• BC Human Rights Code
• BC Human Rights Tribunal
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
• UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child

• Human Rights Watch
• UN Human Rights Research Guide
• UN Human Rights: Latin America and Caribbean Region