Use the criteria below to evaluate Canada's success in the recognition and protection of human rights.

• Canada has a fair, accessible and effective system of dispute resolution.
• All citizens regardless of sex, marital status, religion and sexual orientation (including children, Aboriginals, immigrants and the elderly) are entitled to equal treatment before and under the law.
• All Canadian residents and citizens, refugees and immigrants are protected from discrimination by individuals, corporations, government and members of the justice community.
• All members of the justice community uphold the rule of law and respect the rights and freedoms protected by law.
• The government is accountable to the rule of law.
• All citizens have a voice in the democratic process.
• All Canadians enjoy equal access to government services.
• Canada abides by its international obligations to protect human rights both domestically and abroad.

Gather more evidence for each criterion. You may wish to investigate:

• Specific cases - a useful website might be theOntario Human Rights CommissionortheCanadian Legal Information Institute.
• Cases that focus upon groups with specific concerns such as:
  • The Multani Case
  • David Lepofsky
  • Justine Blainey
• The use of solitary confinement and the treatment of prisoners.
• Actions of Canadian mining and garment companies operating overseas.
• Issues of youth justice.
• Access to health and legal services in the far north.
• Treatment of immigrants and refugees upon arrival in Canada.
• Counterterrorism
• Religious Freedom

Focus Question:How would you rank Canada's success in the recognition and protection of human rights?

Analyse all criteria in depth and present the evidence to support your opinion. Explain your overall initial ranking and your final overall ranking. Now you are ready to prepare your report card. The medium is your choice: slide show, media report, mock interview, essay or report for example. Be creative. This task is distinct from others you may have tackled in the past as it asks you to see the criteria from both sides as is necessary in most legal issues. It is a sliding scale; therefore you will need to explain both the positive aspects and those areas of concern. The analysis of each criterion should be between 100-250 words. The total word count for the assignment is 800-2000 words. A proper works cited, reference sheet or bibliography is required detailing the sources you have used for this assessment task (choose any citation style method but keep consistent). A reminder that information that is paraphrased needs to be cited as well - remember intext or footnotes are needed.

Tips

Help yourself stay on track:

• Note expected timelines for the completion of this activity.
• Ask your teacher for suggestion or assistance.
• Have your report card reviewed by a peer, parent or sibling.
• Engage in a conversation about rights; draw in current issues.
• Remove distractions and avoid procrastinating.