Impartiality
The HRO works at an arm’s length from the HWDSB promoting human rights for all HWDSB community members. Maintaining impartiality, the Office addresses concerns and complaints in a consistent, timely, unbiased, fair and culturally responsive manner. The HRO does not provide legal advice or representation to, or act as legal counsel to HWDSB or any other party.
Confidentiality
To protect the interests of all parties involved, the HRO will maintain confidentiality throughout the complaint resolution process to the extent possible, subject to all relevant legal considerations.
Intersectionality
The HRO recognizes that each person simultaneously exists within multiple and overlapping identities and that intersectional discrimination may arise out of the combination of experiences of oppressions which, compounded, produce a distinct experience of discrimination or oppression.
Restorative Approaches
The HRO applies remedial, restorative resolution approaches that focus on creating mutual understanding and repairing harm, when possible to do so. We firmly believe that restorative approaches provide opportunities to learn, acknowledge and address the effect of discrimination or harassment, and can lead to behaviour change and restored relationships.
Shared Leadership
All HWDSB community members have roles, responsibilities and accountabilities in promoting and protecting human rights and meeting requirements under the Human Rights Policy and procedures. Each member’s responsibilities and accountabilities are defined in the Human Rights Accountability Procedure.
Reinforcing Indigenous Educational Wellness and Recocilaition
Affirming Indigenous peoples’ distinct, inherent and collective rights, the HRO commits to listening, understanding, encouraging care and respect, and cultivating reciprocal trust with Indigenous students, staff and families and communities. The HRO honors the commitments in the Indigenous Education Circle Strategic Action Plan(IECSAP), and work alongside the Indigenous Education Department to apply Indigenous Cultural Safety and Indigenous based conflict resolution and restorative approaches in the HRO’s resolution processes.