Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 13/00) - Human rights activists say they are closer than ever to having proper legislation in place to protect Northerners' rights.

"We're pleased to see this level of development. It's one of the four top priorities of government right now," said Lona Hegeman, president of the NWT Human Rights Society.

FACTS The NWT Human Rights Society was originally formed in 1994 as the Northern Women's Human Rights Committee In 1999 there were 221 sexual assaults reported to the RCMP in NWT The Alison McAteer House was at full capacity of 45 women last August

Hegeman was referring to the GNWT discussion paper released last week by the department of justice which suggests the creation of a Human Rights Act in the territory that has

Hegemen says this has convinced her that department is serious about creating human rights protection in the NWT as with the rest of Canada.

It's something which may also result in the development of commission supported by a staff of three to five members, she added.

Presently, human rights issues in the NWT have been dealt with through the department's Fair Practices Act, an Act that has been criticized for not adequately addressing human rights issues.

"We've always said it wasn't equivalent," said Hegeman.

Although the society focuses mainly in prevention and as a support group, Hegeman intends to see this Human Rights Act come to life.

She said her group will be campaigning in the schools, the streets and in the workplace.

A Human Rights Act would protect Northerners from sexual harrassment in the workplace, family violence, financial status discrimination and gay and lesbian discrimination.

Having legislation in the NWT would not only protect those as risk, but would act as a deterrent for those abusing their powers, she added.

"By not having a strong protection here, there are people who are predisposed to be abused in that way. People know they can get away with it," said Hegeman.

She also hopes such legislation would give universal rights, an idea shared by the society's vice-president Addena Sumter-Freitag.

"What we are concern about, is human rights for everyone," said Sumter-Freitag.

"That's why you have to have laws and legislations that protects people," she added.

The society was formed about six years ago when it got involved in a case involving workplace harassment. Today, workplace harassment remains among the many discriminations experienced in the NWT, said Sumter-Freitag.