View source for Center for Research-Action on Race Relations

{{Short description|Canadian civil rights organization}}
[[File:Fo Niemi of CRARR (cropped).jpg|right|thumb|Fo Niemi in the CRARR offices in 2010]]
The '''Center for Research-Action on Race Relations''' ('''CRARR''') is a Canadian, [[Non-profit organization|non-profit]] [[civil rights]] organization committed to promoting racial harmony and [[social equality|equality]]. The organization functions as a service for victims of [[discrimination]] through activities involving [[advocacy]], [[research]] and [[legal representation]]. It is considered a leader among non-profit organizations of its type in [[Canada]].<ref>CRARR. "Our Mandate and Services." Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations. 21 Feb 2010. http://www.crarr.org/?q=node/1</ref>
The CRARR has supported and assisted over 250 victims of discrimination since its inception in 1983. It takes on approximately 75 new cases per year.<ref>CRARR. "Services for Victims of Discrimination." Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations. 21 Feb 2010. http://www.crarr.org/?q=node/15</ref> The majority of individuals aided come from the [[Montreal]] area, however, assistance is not limited to this region.
==History==
The organization was founded in 1983 in Montreal, [[Quebec]], Canada and while it has expanded the reach of its work to other parts of Canada, it maintains its base in Montreal.<ref>CRARR. "Our Mandate and Services."  Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations. 21 Feb 2010. http://www.crarr.org/?q=node/1</ref> It was co-founded by {{ill|Fo Niemi|fr}}, who has maintained the title of [[executive director]] since the organization's creation.
==Mission statement==
The organization's motto is "United for Diversity and Racial Equality." Its mandate, broadly speaking, is "to promote racial harmony and equality in Canada".<ref>''Ibid.''</ref>
The organization is actively engaged in promoting equality and multicultural representation in Canada through various activities. As such, the CRARR has a strong commitment to promoting [[racial equality]], believing that "When it comes to real inclusion—real integration, real presence in decision-making positions—we still have a fairly long way to go".<ref>Kevin Reilly, et al., eds. Racism: A Global Reader. (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2002) 334</ref> This position demonstrates the organization's belief that underrepresentation of minorities is a [[social injustice]] that must be corrected.
==Current activities==
'''i. Services and Activities''' <br />
The organization's goals are largely focused on policy interventions, [[public education]] and mobilization, promotion and recognition, research-action, and training and consulting. More specifically, the organization offers a wide range of services and activities, including:
{{quote|
a.	Advocacy and defence for victims of discrimination based on race, religion, ethnic or national origin, [[citizenship]] status and related characteristics.
b.	Charter research and litigation on racial equality issues
c.	Conferences, consultations and seminars on different [[race relations]] and equality rights issues
d.	Research-action projects on systemic racism and on racial minorities’ needs
e.	Interventions and advocacy before legislative, administrative, regulatory and judicial agencies.<ref>Media Awareness Network. "Center for Research-Action on Race Relations." 2010. Media Awareness Network. 19 Feb 2010. {{cite web |url=http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/profiles/advocacy/crarr_profile.cfm |title=Center for Research Action on Race Relations &#124; Profile |accessdate=2010-04-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117054515/http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/profiles/advocacy/crarr_profile.cfm |archivedate=2010-01-17 }}</ref>}}
In addition, the organization also honours an individual or non-profit organization with its bi-annual Frederick Johnson award. Past recipients include Hank Avery, African-Canadian who pushed for the recognition of a black slave's cemetery in Quebec,<ref>''Ibid.''</ref> the organization Mothers United Against Racism and Hon. [[Irwin Cotler]], Canada's former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General.<ref>United Nations, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Questions from the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations. (Geneva: 2007) 6. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/ngos/crarr.pdf></ref>
In 2004-2005, the CRARR hosted a conference on [[youth crime]] prevention. Additionally, the organization hosts an annual lecture on Diversity in Canadian Media that is co-sponsored by the department of Communication Studies at [[Concordia University (Quebec)|Concordia University]] in Montreal.<ref>United Nations 6</ref>
'''ii. Recent Activities'''<br />
The CRARR, represented by Civil Rights Advocate Elena Toews, is currently assisting two groups of black residents of Southwest Montreal who have filed claims with the Quebec Human Rights Commission. The individuals, Samantha Hyman-Roberts and Gallo Cham, have claimed that they were both racially profiled and [[abuse]]d by [[Transit authority|transit authorities]] after failing to show proof that they had purchased transit tickets. Both Hyman-Roberts and Cham are asking for $50,000 and $30,000, respectively. The complaints are currently in the process of being filed on behalf of the individuals by the CRARR.<ref>Irwin Block, "Black Montreal Residents claim racial profiling on transit," Montreal Gazette. 21 Feb 2010 https://montrealgazette.com/life/Black+Montreal+residents+claim+racial+profiling+transit/2594810/story.html{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
'''iii. Past Successes'''<br />
The CRARR has been granted [[intervention (law)|intervener]] status in two discrimination cases reviewed by the [[Supreme Court of Canada]]. One was [[Lavoie v. Canada]] (2002) which discussed giving preference to citizens over non-citizens for government jobs. As intervener, the CRARR argued that the practice was discriminatory and "the preference operated in a particularly invidious way with respect to women." The CRARR argued that many women keep foreign citizenship out of practical considerations, such as maintain the ability to return to their former country to take care of elderly parents.<ref>Daphne Gilbert. "Time to Regroup: Rethinking Section 15 of the Charter." McGill Law Journal. 2003, 48:639. 25 Feb 2010. {{cite web|url=http://lawjournal.mcgill.ca/documents/Gilbert.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-04-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706185352/http://lawjournal.mcgill.ca/documents/Gilbert.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-06 }}</ref> The reality that citizens receive preference over non-citizens is contrary to the federal [[action plan]], Embracing Change, that was created in 2000 to increase the representation of visible minorities in the federal public service which can often include non-citizens.<ref>United Nations 2</ref>
In addition, the organization has also achieved the following:
-intervened in a number of cases before the [[Canadian Human Rights Commission|Canadian]] and Quebec Human Rights Commissions and helped victims of racism receive over $400,000 in damages through various [[court case]]s
-won a case before the [[Canadian Human Rights Tribunal]] against a man in [[British Columbia]] who was affiliated with a [[neo-Nazi]] website
-aided a number of individuals in filing complaints against discriminatory and unethical [[police]] and transit authority behavior.<ref>CRARR. "Services for Victims of Discrimination." Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations. 21 Feb 2010.  http://www.crarr.org/?q=node/15</ref>
==Current organizational features==
'''i. Employees/Volunteers'''<br />
The staff currently consists of three people led by the executive director, Fo Niemi, who co-founded the organization in 1983.<ref>CRARR. "Executive Director." Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations. 20 Feb 2010. http://www.crarr.org/?q=node/65</ref> In addition to the executive director, the organization also has a counsellor for victims of discrimination, a legal counsellor and a communication and research officer.<ref>CRARR. "The CRARR Team." Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations. 20 Feb 2010. http://www.crarr.org/?q=node/10</ref>
The organization attracts [[intern]]s who study in [[law]], [[political science]], [[social work]] and [[communications]]. At least six lawyers are associated with and work closely to the rest of the CRARR team in addition to a number of other experts across Canada who lend their expertise and advice to the organization.<ref>United Nations 6</ref>
'''ii. Funding'''<br />
As a non-profit organization, the CRARR receives funding from a range of both public and private institutions. This includes the government of Canada, businesses, unions, educational institutions, as well as donations from private individuals.<ref>CRARR. "Our Mandate and Services."  Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations. 21 Feb 2010.  http://www.crarr.org/?q=node/1</ref>
In 2007, the organization received a contribution from Canada's Department of Justice in the amount of $67,000 CAD.<ref>Government of Canada, Department of Justice. Disclosure of Grant and Contribution Awards Over $25,000. (Ottawa: 2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181813/http://justice.gc.ca/eng/dept-min/pd-dp/gc-sc/details.asp?yr=20072008&q=Q3&id=9042]</ref>
'''iii. Partners'''<br />
The CRARR is affiliated with a number of governmental and non-governmental actors. Governmental parties include the Department of Canadian Heritage, Human
Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Ministry of Immigration and Cultural
Communities of Quebec, the National Crime Prevention Strategy and the Secrétariat à l’action communautaire autonome du Québec.<ref>United Nations 6</ref> Some non-governmental partners include the [[Royal Bank of Canada]], Banque Nationale, CHUM Ltd., [[Canadian Auto Workers]], the National Council of Visible Minorities in the Federal Public Service, the [[Canadian Jewish Congress]], and the [[Canadian Race Relations Foundation]].<ref>United Nations 6</ref>
==See also==
* [[Canadian values]]
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.crarr.org}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Center For Research-Action On Race Relations}}
[[Category:Organizations based in Montreal]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Montreal]]
[[Category:Civil rights organizations in Canada]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in Quebec]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1983]]
[[Category:1980s in Montreal]]