The Human Rights Commission chaired by Joan Myles of St. John�s met in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on September 29 and 30. Decisions were made on 16 new complaints. Of these, eight were dismissed; one was withdrawn by the complainant; four had settlements approved; one was deferred for a later date; and two were ordered for a public hearing by a board of inquiry.

The Human Rights Commission is also pleased to release the decision of adjudicator Mary O�Brien in the complaint of Miguel Padron against Robert Edney and Melvin Mercer, owner/landlord and caretaker, respectively of a rental property. Mr. Padron who is a black man from Cuba filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission in November 1998 alleging discrimination and harassment on the basis of race. In his complaint to the commission, Mr. Padron alleged he was subjected to racial epithets, verbal harassment and differential treatment by Melvin Mercer and evicted from his bedsitting room by Robert Edney because of race, colour, ethnic or national origin.

Adjudicator, Mary O�Brien, upheld Mr. Padron�s complaint and ordered the respondents, Robert Edney and Melvin Mercer, jointly and severally, to pay the complainant the sum of $2,000 for injury to dignity and self-respect.

The Human Rights Commission is mandated to enforce the Human Rights Code and to promote compliance with the legislation through educational programs. Since January 2000, the commission has accepted 73 complaints for investigation. They have made decisions involving 72 complaints. Of these, 12 have been ordered to boards of inquiry.

The next meeting of the Human Rights Commission will be held in December in St. John�s. The commission meets yearly in December to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The commission urges all residents of the province to reaffirm commitment to the principles of human rights by planning activities to mark December 10, 2000 the 52nd anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Media contact:

Gladys Vivian
Executive Director
Human Rights Commission
P. O. Box 8700
St. John�s, Newfoundland
A1B 4J6
Phone: (709) 729-2709
Toll Free: 1-800-563-5808.

2000 10 02 3:20 p.m.