OBA Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law Section LAW PROGRAM
Original Program Date: September 8, 2017

In recent months, incidents fueled by racism, xenophobia and intolerance, both at home and abroad, have been reported in the media on an almost weekly basis. In Toronto alone, we have witnessed an Islamophobic protest outside of a downtown mosque, hate speech and graffiti targeting Jews, and several other incidents of hateful vandalism across the city.

With increasing regularity comes increasing concern and a need for action from the legal community. In February, we saw lawyers across Canada and the United States come together swiftly in a Cross Border Legal Coalition to challenge the USA’s immigration ban and assist those affected.

Can we do more? How can you respond? Ensure you are able to identify hate crimes, strategize how to address hate-based incidents that may fall below the legal threshold for hate crimes, and provide critical legal assistance to individuals or groups targeted by such incidents. Our expert panel will unravel key questions, including:

• What venues are available for addressing racist, xenophobic and hate-based incidents?
• What factors should you consider in choosing the appropriate forum?
• How can advocates work with individuals and community groups to prevent such incidents from occurring?
• What are the unique challenges facing clients targeted by such incidents that you need to be aware of?

Join us to explore this timely issue with advocates who bring years of experience responding to discriminatory and hate-based action on behalf of their clients, and gather the expertise you need to take a stand.

PROGRAM SPEAKERS

Anita Bromberg, Director of Advocacy and Engagement, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center
Mihad Fahmy, Barrister & Solicitor, and Chair, Human Rights Committee, National Council of Canadian Muslims
Corey Shefman, Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP

MODERATOR

Richa Sandill, Rudner MacDonald LLP

PROGRAM CHAIRS

Kiran Kang, Goldblatt Partners LLP
Ewa Krajewska, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP