Human Rights Definitions

Belief systems and attitudes about persons with disabilities as being less worthy of respect and consideration, less able to contribute and participate, or of less inherent value than others. Ableism may be conscious or unconscious, and may be embedded in institutions, systems or the broader culture of a society. It can limit the opportunities of persons with disabilities and reduce their inclusion in the life of their communities. Ableist attitudes are often based on the view that disability is an “anomaly to normalcy,” rather than an inherent and expected variation in the human condition. 

Discrimination resulting from a seemingly neutral rule or practice that negatively impacts individuals or a group in relation to a protected human rights ground.

Prejudice, biases, attitudes, beliefs, stereotyping or discrimination directed at people of African descent and rooted in their unique history of enslavement, colonization and its legacy. Anti-Black racism is deeply entrenched in Canadian institutions, policies and practices, to the extent that it is normalized/invisiblized. See GECDSB’s Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Background Report.

Racism against Indigenous peoples that is rooted in the failure to recognize Indigenous sovereignty, and colonial notions of white/settler superiority that permeates systems, institutions and societal values. Colonization has resulted in systemic attempts at cultural erasure, and entrenched systemic racism that adversely affects outcomes including the health, well-being, access to resources, access to justice, and opportunities for Indigenous peoples, and impacting access to education, housing, food security and employment. 

Latent or overt hostility, or hatred directed towards, or discrimination against, individual Jewish people or the Jewish people for reasons connected to their religion, ethnicity, and their cultural, historical, intellectual, and religious heritage.

Defined in the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Regulation. Harassment/discrimination includes bullying that is connected with a protected human rights ground.

The commonplace assumption that all people are or should be cisgender (or cis, meaning their gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth), and includes overt, subtle and systemic prejudice/discrimination against people who are trans, Two-Spirit, gender non-conforming, or non-binary.

The human rights obligation to make adjustments, provide supports, or make exceptions on a case-by-case basis in order to avoid discrimination on the basis of a protected human rights ground and to remove barriers to ensure fair and equitable access, opportunity, treatment, and inclusion. 

A course of comments or actions that are known, or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome. It can involve words, images, gestures or actions that are offensive, embarrassing, humiliating, or demeaning. 

Negative attitudes, actions, feelings, aversion, fear or hatred of queer, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay or bisexual people and communities, or of behaviours stereotyped as “homosexual”.

A witnessed, reported, alleged or suspected situation, incident, or series of events that violate(s) the Human Rights Policy, or would violate the Policy if substantiated. It includes conduct that is discriminatory on the basis of the protected human rights grounds or intersecting grounds including situations that are not overtly discriminatory, but in which bias may be operating.

The way people's experiences are shaped by their overlapping identities and social locations, which can produce distinct/unique experiences, eg., creating distinct barriers, discrimination, opportunities, and/or power imbalances.

Includes racism, biases, stereotypes, prejudice, fear or acts of hostility toward individual Muslims or followers of Islam in general. In addition to individual acts of racism or racial profiling, Islamophobia can lead to viewing and treating Muslims as a greater security threat on an institutional, systemic and societal level.

Beliefs that a racial group is superior/inferior, or actions/practices, whether intentional or unintentional, that subordinate individuals/groups because of their marginalized racial identity. Racism exists at a number of levels, including individual, institutional or systemic, and societal. Racism is tied to power, i.e. relative social, political, economic and institutional power. 

Patterns of behaviour, policies or practices that are part of the social or administrative structures of an organization and perpetuate disadvantage based on a protected human rights ground(s).

Biases, prejudices, aversion, fear or hatred of trans, Two-Spirit, non-binary, or gender non-conforming people based on stereotypes/misconceptions used to justify discrimination, harassment and violence.