A series of workshops and consultations are coming to Yellowknife and Behchokǫ̀ this month, with a focus on a human rights approach toward poverty.
Canada Without Poverty (CWP) is organizing the workshops, while Alternatives North serves as a partner “to learn about Northern experiences of poverty, and talk about poverty as a violation of human rights,” according to the group.
“We want to spread the message about a human-rights based approach,” says Michèle Biss, CWP’s legal education and outreach coordinator. “We want to have the opportunity to talk about what’s happening both internationally as well as in the rest of Canada toward this human-rights based approach to poverty.”
Specifically, the workshops will include:
- An overview of international human rights law
- A presentation and discussion of the upcoming Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy
- A listening circle throughout the workshop for participants to share experiences about poverty in the North
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CWP is a not-for-profit, charitable organization that is dedicated to ending poverty in Canada through a human rights approach. The organization was established 1971 and is led by a board of directors who have personally experienced poverty.
The workshops will be an opportunity to discuss international human rights, the realities of poverty in Canada – especially the unique experiences of Northern poverty – and the upcoming Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy.
“It’s a chance for us to meet with people living in poverty… to learn what we can do better and to better represent those voices in our work,” Biss says.
In addition to the workshops and consultations, CWP is organizing a video series called “This is Poverty,” which involves collecting video submissions from those who have experienced poverty to tell the Federal government what to do in their poverty reduction strategy.
Following CWP’s visit to the North, the group plans to share information online about their work on poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
The event in Yellowknife will happen at the Northern United Place on Saturday, May 6 in room 205 from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm. Lunch will be served and childcare will be available, according to CWP.
