Four Nova Scotia activists and two community organizations were honoured for their contributions to social justice and equality at the province’s annual human rights awards ceremony on Monday.
Hosted by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission at the Halifax Central Library, the event aimed to acknowledge local movers and shakers who support human rights at the grassroots level and have been nominated to receive the honour by their peers.
The ceremony was held on International Human Rights Day, which takes place on Dec. 10 every year to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The historic document was one of the first landmark achievements of the new United Nations.
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As 2018 comes to a close, this year’s recipients challenged Maritimers to become stronger allies in 2019.
“Just because racism doesn’t affect you personally, doesn’t mean that you just get to opt out,” said DeRico Symonds, an advocate for employment, antipoverty, youth and affordable housing on Monda. Symonds was the recipient of the 2018 Dr. Burnley “Rocky” Jones Award.
“Just because women’s rights don’t affect you as a male-identified person, doesn’t mean you get to check out. We all have a role to play and I think we all need to be responsible.”
This year’s individual awards went to Eric Smith, an advocate for people living with HIV and AIDS, and Huwaida Medan, an intersectional feminist, educator and inclusion consultant based in Halifax.
Medani was an immigrant to Canada from Sudan while Smith was a school teacher before he was kicked out for being HIV-positive. He was the subject of hate campaigns targeting homosexual teachers and played a leading role in having the Nova Scotia Human Rights act amended to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and HIV status.
Smith described said being a better ally means being a better listener and knowing where to direct your advocacy.
“I think it’s important for allies to make sure they are communicating with the groups they are supporting. Sometimes allies think they know the message, but they aren’t quite on base,” he said.
“Talk to your politicians, hound them if you have to. They get tired of listening to the same thing very quickly, and so they will actually do something.”
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Recipients of the Organization Awards included the Inverness Development Association for its contribution to infrastructure accessibility services at the Inverness Beach, and the South End Environmental Injustice Society, for its work toward improving the health of the Black community in the Shelburne South End, which has long been exposed to toxic materials in nearby landfills.
The Youth Award went to North Preston, N.S. YouTuber Kardeisha Provo, whose videos highlight the successes of her community and address the realities of being from Canada’s largest indigenous Black community.
She encouraged young people to get involved in human rights advocacy using social media, which has made it easier than ever to share one’s story.
“Because we all have different perspectives and we’re all unique and everything, it’s essential that everyone’s voice be heard,” Provo said in an interview.
“Because you know that you’re different from the next person, that is more of a reason for you to share everything that you have and that you can offer the world.”
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