Research summary
Even though human rights legislation prohibits discrimination, discriminatory practices persist, particularly in public safety organizations. And they are not limited to the internal environment—reports depict examples of persons denied justice or access to services based on gender, sexuality or race, for example. Not only are the costs significant for individuals and organizations, but the failure of authority figures to protect the rights of the citizens they serve strikes at the heart of a democratic society.
As Canada Research Chair in Rights-Based Organizational Development, Dr. Angela Workman-Stark is examining these issues through a human rights lens. She and her research team are developing a framework that incorporates the systems and practices needed to preserve and promote human rights in organizations that are prone to discriminatory practices. They aim to understand how and why human rights violations persist in public safety organizations and to identify the critical levers that support human rights, justice and inclusion.