British Columbia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, is urging universities to take action in protecting student protesters. In a recent statement, Govender emphasized the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring a safe environment for students to exercise their right to peaceful protest.
Govender’s call to action comes after a series of incidents where student protesters have faced backlash and disciplinary action from their universities. This includes instances of students being suspended or expelled for participating in protests, as well as facing intimidation and harassment from university officials.
According to Govender, these actions not only violate students’ rights to freedom of expression and assembly, but also create a chilling effect on their ability to engage in activism and advocate for important causes.
In her statement, Govender highlighted the role of universities in promoting and protecting human rights. She emphasized that universities have a responsibility to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their political beliefs or actions.
Furthermore, Govender called on universities to review their policies and procedures to ensure they align with human rights principles and do not impede on students’ rights. She also urged universities to engage in dialogue with student protesters and address their concerns in a respectful and constructive manner.
In response to Govender’s statement, several universities in British Columbia have committed to reviewing their policies and procedures. The University of British Columbia has stated that they will be conducting a thorough review of their disciplinary processes to ensure they are in line with human rights standards.
This call to action from the Human Rights Commissioner serves as a reminder that universities have a crucial role to play in protecting and promoting human rights. It is imperative that universities take proactive measures to safeguard the rights of their students and create a safe and inclusive environment for all.
