ABOUT NARC

The National Anti-Racism Council

The National Anti-Racism Council (NARC) of Canada is a coalition of community based organizations and individuals who came together in May 2000, with a view to ensuring that there was wide community input both in the development of Canadas contributions to the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), and in local community capacity building and commitment implementation work in the years following the global gathering.

Between May 2000 and September 2001, NARC was busy outreaching to various communities of colour, immigrant and refugee advocacy groups and other anti-racist/anti-discrimination organizations across Canada in order to best organize our communities around the WCAR process. Many of the NARC members attended the WCAR as representatives of their respective communities. Collectively as well, NARC released a report entitled 'The Two faces of Canada: A Community Report on Racism', in order to assist the Canadian NGOs attending the WCAR in telling the truth about Canadas record on racism.

Within one year, NARC has grown from a small group of primarily locally based organizations to a truly National Network of Canadian community-based non-governmental organizations committed to anti-racism and opposing related intolerance, to the sharing of anti-racism related information and resources, and to building and supporting local, regional, national and international strategies to effectively address racism and related intolerance. Our membership includes national organizations representing immigrants and refugees or ethno-racial groups, such as the Canadian Council for Refugees and the Chinese Canadian National Council, provincial networks such as the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians, and local advocacy organizations and community based legal clinics like Urban Alliance on Race Relations, African Canadian Legal Clinic and the Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic. We also have community groups representing the various regions of Canada ranging from the Multicultural Association of Fredericton in the East, to the Vancouver Association of Chinese Canadians in the West.

NARC Mandate and Structure

NARC is a national network of Canadian NGOs and individuals that support local, regional and national strategies for responding to racism and related intolerance and promoting anti-racism.

NARC consists of its members, affiliate members and disseminates relevant information to the NARC network. As a newly formed coalition, its affairs have been run by a Steering Committee.

NARC MANDATE
NARC is a national network of Canadian community-based non-governmental organizations committed to anti-racism and opposing related intolerance, to the sharing of anti-racism related information and resources, and to building and supporting local, regional, national and international strategies to effectively address racism and related intolerance.

INTERIM STEERING COMMITTEE
As NARC moves into its second phase (the post-WCAR phase) it is recommended that this Steering Committee be expanded. The current Steering Committee consists of 2 national organizations (Canadian Council for Refugees and the Chinese Canadian National Council), one regional organization (Council of Agencies Serving South Asians) and 2 local Toronto agencies (Metro Toronto Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations).

It is suggested that the current Steering Committee be expanded to 10-15 members who will be appointed as the Steering Committee until March 2002. Following this, members will elect a new Steering Committee. It is important that the expanded Steering committee reflect a local, regional and national focus both in terms of location of the organizations and their focus.

MEMBERS:
NARC consists of members (community-based, non-governmental organizations and individuals) from across Canada. Members complete a registration form and, once they meet the membership criteria, receive confirmation of membership. Members are part of the NARC network, receiving anti-racism related information. Members are also expected to:
Assist in the dissemination of information
Participate in the establishment of NARC priorities
Work towards achieving the outcomes identified in the annual planning session.
Actively promote AR locally

AFFILIATE MEMBERS:
While governmental, academic or public organizations cannot be members of NARC, there are such organizations who are allies in the struggle against racism. These organizations (e.g. academic organizations, organized labour) are invited to become affiliate members

STEERING COMMITTEE:
The Steering committee consists of a group of community-based, organizational representatives. The organizations represented should be diverse in focus, reflecting local, regional and national mandates.

The Steering committee is responsible for:
Promoting NARCs mandate
Facilitating the establishment of priorities for NARC
Supporting the achievement of these priorities
Liaising and consulting with membership
Supporting local, regional and national anti-racism initiatives
Ensuring that the Steering committee is aware of relevant national AR developments
Finding the resources to maintain the NARC network
Seeking feedback from NARC membership on relevant issues

NARC NETWORK
The NARC network consists of all those organizations and individuals who are on the NARC email list. They receive information regularly from NARC

SECRETARIAT:
The NARC secretariat is responsible for:
Dissemination of information to the network
Coordinating the national consultation
Preparation of the report on the consultation
Coordinating and supporting the coordination of regional debriefs
Compiling the community reports
Disseminating the community reports
Seeking resources for maintaining the NARC network
Assisting in formalizing NARCs structure
Providing support to the Steering Committee
Coordinating the membership initiative
Maintaining the NARC membership and network lists
Submission of reports to the funder
Keeping track of NARC expenditure and income

NARC Consultation Report Beyond The World Conference June 15 to June 17 2001 Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Proceedings EXECUTIVE SUMMARY July 2001 CULTURELINK (Prepared by: Abena Mckenzie) SUMMARY The National Anti-Racism Council (NARC) is a coalition of community based organizations and individuals who came together in the year 2000. NARCs intent was to ensure that there was wide community input into the development of Canadas contribution to the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related intolerance scheduled to take place in Durban, South Africa in August 2001. From June 15 to June 17 2001, NARC hosted and facilitated a National Consultation, Beyond the World Conference in Toronto Ontario. The national consultation had these objectives: Create a national report card on racism in Canada Identify domestic anti-racism agenda for the Canada Strategize on how best to have an impact at the world conference Begin to develop a post-consultation action plan to be implemented by an expanded NARC network. Between June 15 and June 17 the consultation attracted a total of 172 participants from Alberta, The Atlantic, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Yukon. Participants received grounding in the contextual framework of this consultation on racism in Canada and built their understanding of the international and domestic events leading towards the UN World Conference Against Racism. The message was strong that the UN Conference was an opportunity for lobbying and advocacy and individuals and groups needed to use this time to strategize in order to use that brief window effectively. There was an overriding theme throughout the three days that it was of supreme importance that racialized groups worked together, representing their issues and the areas of overlap as a unified body. Fragmentation based on ethnicity; country of origin, gender or other identity would only dilute the possibility of impact. Participants succeeded in discussing a number of issues and experiences relating to the Canadian experiences of women, victims and survivors, forgotten groups, the media, immigrants, refugees and migrants, Aboriginal peoples. Participants were assisted in a gap analysis of these experiences vis-a-vis the promises of human rights and freedoms guaranteed through The Canadian Charter, The Canadian Human Rights act, Employment Equity and provincial Human rights codes. Consistently there was a significant gap between the promises and experiences. Over the course of the consultation, participants from all regions of Canada worked in focus groups on issues affecting women, victims of racism, forgotten groups, immigrants, refugees and migrants and Aboriginal peoples in urban areas. Groups explored their shared experiences and expectations. When measured against the promises made by Canada through various conventions, legislation and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the resulting picture left much to be desired. The reality experienced by members of these groups stands in clear opposition to the international image enjoyed by Canada as a country which respects human rights and democracy. The following is an overall grading of the performance of Canada at eliminating racism from the participating groups WOMEN - overall grade F recognition of racialized women F eradication of genderized racism F prevention of genderized racism F VICTIMS /SURVIVORS - overall grade F education F justice and policing F access to services D access to political system F use of international instruments F resources to combat racism F media as instrument to combat F FORGOTTEN GROUPS - overall grade D access to housing D access to employment F access to recreation C access to social services D access to health and rehabilitation F Access to education D Criminal justice system D+ Legal remedies to racism C- Addressing criminalizaton of groups F MEDIA - overall grade F Positive portrayal of racialized groups D Addressing systemic racism F Role of government F IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS - overall grade F Canadas 12 priorities F Immigration policies F Effective participation F Access to health, Employ.& Educ. F The participants who are on their way to Durban successfully drafted a strategy for doing public education at the conference and using the information from this consultation to lobby and advocate for recognition and inclusion by the official Canadian delegation. It is clear that two Canadas will be portrayed at the upcoming UN-World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance taking place in Durban, South Africa in August 2001. While the official line will support the popular view of Canada as a country in which racism is not a problem, the Canadian non-governmental organizations present will focus on exposing the racism which is experienced by many communities of colour in Canada. There was overall, a clear articulation of where the instruments, institutions and systems so lauded by Canada in its response to the UN-WCAR questionnaire, fail to prevent, address, combat or redress racism in its many manifestations. Delegates were able to in most instances document why, despite the existence of many legal instrument, racism continues to nullify the access to and enjoyment of their rights and freedoms for many racialized and Aboriginal Canadians. The participants at the recent Beyond the World Conference consultation in Toronto have committed to acknowledging both the triumphs and the failures which are part of the Canadian experience and taking measures to ensuring acknowledgement of this truth and implementation of practical systemic changes in the post-WCAR period. Urged by the Consultation participants, the National Anti -Racism Council has committed to continue its existence as a network of likeminded and committed organizations and individuals working at the grass roots level to achieve the following objectives: Inclusion of phrases "gendered racism" and "racialized women" in government documents and NGO documents going to Durban Use language of "gendered racism" and "racialized women" in our own organizations and work with NARC on developing an official definition of "gendered racism" and racialized women Circulate definitions among ourselves circulate the official NGO definitions we developed and promote it in public Establish instruments to facilitate an effective grass roots communication network to respond to incidents and issues of racism related to victims Get organizational support and buy in to the response network get local political support around response to local and national incidents Get in kind contributions to facilitate a response to issues and incidents Create and distribute a national annual incident audit stop/improve/delay Bill C-11 Organize NARC web site to develop template procedure to record and disseminate information on how the campaign is going Campaign to regularize non status migrants to give amnesty Create dbase of groups, individuals doing AR work and/or operation within an AR framework to assist and support organizations individuals and groups that are doing or planning to do this work across Canada. This dbase will also assist those seeking access to services provided in an AR framework Create a national monitoring network to oversee the judicial system (criminal, HR, etc). The national monitoring network (NMN) will be constituted as a subgroup of NARC; we will identify members from across Canada, funding sources; the NMN mandate; identify target communities Identify present watchdog groups; compile list of potential members; insure diverse and widespread representation of NGOs (including forgotten groups) Invest personal time and energy, secure involvement of others, funding possibilities, access current NGO initiative Assist with outreach Identify partners Resource sources Build capacity within communities e.g. educate communities on how to cultivate the media Appendix A List of Participants Adeena Niazi Afghan Womens' Organization Ahmed Motiar Council of the Muslim Community of Canada Ahmed Nalayeh Catholic Social Services Alerte Avril Conacor Alex Keilty Urban Alliance on Race Relations Amdi Asanoski Roma Community and Advocacy Centre Amy Ong Andom Gegru Association for New Canadians Andrea Imada Canadian Race Relations Foundation Anne Pohl Aboriginal Women's voices Arif Virani South Asian Legal Clinic Ontario Asha Chakkalakal Skills For Change Ashir Ali Ashraf Ghanem Multicultural Association of Fredericton Audi Dharmalingam UARR Audi Dharnialingam Urban Alliance on Race Relations Avirani South Asian legal Clinic Ontario Avvy Go Metro Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Barbara D. Miles Consultant Barry N Thomas Urban Alliance on Race Relations Bev salmon Bindu Dhaliwal The Students commission Brian Eyolfsun ALST Carlos Torres Centre For Social Justice Carmen M subibi Asian Community Aids Services Cassandra Fernandes Access and Equity Toronto Cathlena Mason Across Boundaries Chantal Sundaram ARAC Charan Gill Progressive Intercultural Comm.Services Charlene Hay North Alberta Alliance on Race Relations Chris Ramsaroop Farm Workers of America Christine Baghdady Changing Together, Centre for Imm. Women Christine Parsons United Nations Association in Canada Christopher C Sorio Migrante Toronto Chung Tang Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Clayton Talbert Sr. Colleen Hua CCNC Colleen Thomas ALST Consuelo Rubio Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples Cyntheline Joseph Catholic Cross Cultural Services Cynthia Pay Chinese Canadian National Council Darashani Joachim Urban Alliance on Race Relations Daria Care Status of Women Committee Darlyn Mentor Canadian Race relations Foundation Derek Khani Bureau de Consultation Jeunesse Dilini Reynold CICS Don Styles Canadian Union of Public Employees Donna Paris United To End Racism Durkhana Ranzooryar Afghan Women's Organization Ekua Walcott York University Elijah Mastersingh Racism Healing Emmy Pantin Grassroots Arts and Media Initiative Francisco Rico-Martinez FCJ Hamilton House Refugee Project Frank Yong Amnesty International Canada Fred Bartley ALST Fred Bartley Aboriginal Legal services Gitanjali Lena Canadian Council for refugees Golnaz Alivarzadeh North shore Multicultural Society Grace Edward Galabuzi Centre For Social Justice Hari Lalla AMENO Harini Sivalingam College and University Tamil students Hashi-Sed Abd----- Somali Canadian Community Centre Hassan Abukar Toronto Youth Cabinet Hedina Sijercic Roma Community and Advocacy Centre Helen Wong Creating Together Ian Foucher United Nations Association in Canada Inez Elliston CCMIE Iris Yong Pacific Anti-Racism Institute of Canada Jaime Koebel Nat. Association Of Friendship Centres James Allen Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex Jane Moore Older Women's Network Jane Mulkewich Working Group on Racial Equity Janet Ngo Jay Yun Dong Jeong Dentonia Park United Church Jean Houston Older Women's Network Jeff Hewitt Aboriginal Legal services Jehad Aliweiwi Canadian Arab Federatioin Jo Anne Henderson-White Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement John Young-jung Lee Toronto Conf. Of the United Church of Can. Judy Sillito New home Immigration and Settlement kanako Isaka Japanese Social Services Karen Mock League for Human rights Kate Banfield Nellie's Kate Dawson Yukon learn Kripa Sekhar Sask. Coalition Against Racism Lazard Vertus Bureau de Consultation Jeunesse Lee Hanna Urban Alliance on Race Relations Leila Acharya CUSO Lennox Cadore Get Reel Black Film Leroy Clarke OISE Leticia Adair Refugee support Centre Diocese of St. John Levi Ezurike African Imm. Society of Nova scotia Lilian Valverde LACEV Loly Rico FCJ Hamilton House Refugee Project Marceline Ndayumvire Manitoba Interfaith Imm. Council Mareena Rafi South Asian Women's Centre Margaret Froh Margaret Parson ACLC Maria Williams CBWC Marian Jack ALST Marie ARIC Marie Chen ACLC Marie Clark walker Canadian Union of Public Employees Martha Ocampo Across Boundaries Martin Appavoo Canadian Council of Churches Matthew Lee Maya Roy Davenport Perth Neighborhood Centre Meena Wong NDP Chinese advisory committee Moffat S Makuto Multicultural association of Northwestern Ontario Murphy Browne Free University Toronto Myrlande Mathurin Urban Alliance on Race Relations Nadia al-Jadir Iraqi Canadian society Nadia Jadia Iraqi Canadian society Nadia Mecadir The Tamil Canadian Society Naomi Binder Wall United Jewish Peoples Order Natalie Sarjeant You Can Toronto Nayaar Javed Imm.Women of Saskatchewan/CRIAW Nirmal Kaur Nora angeles Centre For Social Justice Nyambura Peach Paavan Avadhanula National Capital Alliance on Race Relations Pat Oakes Native Canadian Centre Patricia Diaz Latin American Coalition Against Racism Paul Juror Paul St. Clair Roma Community and Advocacy Centre Paula Kavanagh Place Held for #2 South Asian Legal Clinic Ontario Priya Balakrishnan Canadian Tamil Youth Development Raj Dhir ALST Rizvana Talreja South Asian Women's Centre Robert Katz UARR Roberta wraith MNO Roland Rutland National Harmony Movement Ronald Lwabaayi Rainbow Refugee Comite& Samos Rosa Prince Ruth Brown Older women'sNetwork Salome Lukas Anti Racism Action Centre Sandra carnegie Douglas Sharon Allen Islamic Social Services Sharon Chan Sherene Razack Across Boundaries Sherry Granfar-Arjomand Baha'iCommunity of Canada Shirline Apiou Vancouver Association of Chinese Canadians Shiv Chopra Federation of Race Relations of Ontario Sima Komeilinetad Sri Guggan Sri Skanda-Rajah UARR Stella Pinnock African Caribbean Canadian Seniors Suba Mahalingam Sukhbir Singh Culturelink Surinder Singh Gill Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat Susan Howard - Azzeh Fort Erie Multicultural Centre Sybil Wilson Niagara Black Historical Association Tauhidun Nabi Catholic Cross Cultural Services Tiashoboka Hellen Rainbow Refugee Comite& Samos Tina Cheng African Canadian Legal Clinic Tina Edan Tina Lopes Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture Tyson Bonisteel Community and Race relations Committee Victor Wong Vancouver Association of Chinese Can. Vincent Pang South Asian Legal Centre Ontario Vincent Wong Ming Pao News Walter Kent Reading Network Yuen Hing Tse Zaria John Nellie's zohra Moosa Youth Action Network Zubeda Vahed Peel District School Board Appendix B NATIONAL ANTI-RACISM COUNCIL *BEYOND THE WORLD CONFERENCE* TORONTO 15 to 17 JUNE, 2001 FRIDAY: VENUE: LAW SOCIETY 2:00 PM REGISTRATION Main Lecture Hall First Floor 2:45 to 4:00 WHATs IT ALL ABOUT Main Lecture Hall A plenary session devoted to a review of the UN-WCAR process, objectives; first-hand accounts of how to effectively advocate at the UN; 4:15 to 5:15 THE PICTURE AT HOME Main Lecture Hall Canadas organizing for the UN- WCAR Conference Challenges and Opportunities experienced by Canadian NGOs 5:30 to 7:00 MIX AND MINGLE - Museum Room A cocktail session sponsored by the Law Society. Participants will have an opportunity to see how effective they can be at making friends and influencing people. Community Resource and Information Tables Outside Main Lecture Hall SATURDAY VENUE: METRO HALL 8:00 to 9:00 REGISTRATION Council Chambers Area 2nd Floor 9:00 to 9:30 OPENING CEREMONY Council Chambers (CC) 9:30 to 10:45 LESSONS FROM THE FRONT Council Chambers An opening panel discussion on WCAR. Invited speakers will highlight the Canadian NGO objectives, Allies and Adversaries, Working the UN-WCAR conference, Updates from the national African, First Nations and Youth initiatives. 11:00 to 11:30 A REPORT CARD ON THE GOVERNMENT (CC) A brief plenary describing the process for creating a national Report Card for Canada. 11:30 to 12:30 DEVELOPING THE REPORT CARD Participants separate into self-selected groups where they will spend the bulk of the day evaluating the governments success in eliminating racism from the perspective of their group. Meeting Rooms 3rd Flr: Immigrants, Refugees & Migrants Rm 302 Women Room 304 Forgotten Groups Rm 310 Victims Rm 307 First Nations Rm 314 Others Council Chambers 12:30 - 1:30 LUNCH (Entertainment by the Roma community) 1:30 - 3:30 COMPLETING THE REPORT CARD Groups complete their report cards DURBAN-BOUND CAUCUS Room 313 A People who are actually travelling to Durban meet to get to know each other, identify key objectives for their participation, and strategize as to how to achieve these objectives. 3:45 to 5:00 WHATs THE GRADE? Council Chambers Each group presents their report card to the plenary FREE EVENING VISIT A TORONTO RESTAURANT WITH A LOCAL HOST SUNDAY VENUE: METRO HALL 9:30 - 10:00 HEREs WHAT YOU SAID Rms 308/9, 3rd Flr NARC representatives present a synthesis of key issues that emerged from the report cards 10:00 - 10:30 CHOOSING OUR PRIORITIES Rms 308/9 Participants identify the issues that should be the focus of future planning 10:45 - 11:45 WHAT NEXT PLAN OF ACTION? Rm 308/9 Participants work in small groups to answer the following questions and make realistic commitments: How should we organise a national network of organisations/individuals working to end racism in Canada? What do we want to monitor? How do we do it effectively? What are the desired outcomes which we want to achieve vis a vis these priority issues? What are our first steps? Rm 302 Organising a National Network Rm 314 First Nations group Rm 303 Monitoring Rm 304/7/13 Priority Outcomes 11:45 to 12:45 COMMITMENTS Rm 308/9 Groups report back on their plans and commitments 12:45 to 1:00 CLOSING CEREMONY Rm 308/9 NARC summarises its commitments to the gathering Closing circle 1:00 to 2:00 LUNCH Rm 308/9