August 25, 2016 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Human Rights Commission

The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) is proud to help launch a new guide that will help Canadian teachers better understand and provide support to students living with the effects of geopolitical violence and Islamophobia.

Working in collaboration, the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA), the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), and the CHRC set out to create a guide that will help Canadian teachers create safer and more inclusive spaces for Canadian Muslim students.

“For the sake of our children, we must all be intolerant of intolerance. The classroom should be a place where every child feels safe and understood,” said Chief Commissioner, Marie-Claude Landry. “This guide invites the reader to step into the shoes of a Muslim child in Canada who may be grappling with various forms of trauma or rejection—a child who is simply looking for validation and a safe space in which to grow and learn.”

Canada’s human rights watchdog is following, with growing concern, the impact of Islamophobia on the most vulnerable in our communities— our children and youth. “This is not a Muslim issue—this is a Canadian issue,” said Chief Commissioner Landry. “It is the responsibility of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and of every Canadian citizen, to help counter these negative messages, images and stereotypes. By working together we can help achieve full inclusion for every Muslim person in Canada.”

The guide, entitled Helping Students Deal with Trauma Related to Geopolitical Violence and Islamophobia, is available in both English and French online as well as to order in print form.

The Commission joins ISSA and the NCCM in gratitude to The Canadian Red Cross for their financial support on this project that will help so many young Canadians.

Quotes

“For the sake of our children, we must all be intolerant of intolerance.”

—Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E., Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission

“The classroom should be a place where every child feels safe and understood. This guide invites the reader to step into the shoes of a Muslim child in Canada who may be grappling with various forms of trauma or rejection—a child who is simply looking for validation and a safe space in which to grow and learn.”

—Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E., Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission

“This is not a Muslim issue—this is a Canadian issue. It is the responsibility of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and of every Canadian citizen, to help counter these negative messages, images and stereotypes.”

—Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E., Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission

Associated Links

Helping Students Deal with Trauma Related to Geopolitical Violence and Islamophobia

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