March 21 is International Day for the Elimination of Discrimination

On the International Day for Elimination of Discrimination, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) reflects on the steps to ending the injustices of racial discrimination that continue to take place every day.

“At OPS we strive to learn from the history of this day- that is a day when police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in 1960. This is critical to OPS because fighting systemic and institutional racism is a priority for both our service delivery and employment practices,” says Paola Jani, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

The OPS recognizes this day through various initiatives, including public statements, special events and community outreach. The Diversity Resource and Relations section hosts presentations in local mosques, synagogues and the Catholic Centre for Immigration, teaching newcomers how to report crimes and understand the difference between hate crimes and incidents.

“We recognize that deep-rooted systemic racism and discrimination has had detrimental outcomes on the communities we serve, and, in some cases, trust is extremely fragile,” says Jani.

The OPS is dedicated to addressing racial discrimination year-round, partnering with community groups to improve training, policy and systems and determine what marginalized communities need. For example, Rev. Dr. Anthony Bailey delivered Anti-Black Racism dialogue sessions, and in honour of Black History month, the OPS held an open house with discussions on eliminating racial discrimination.

“If we've harmed the community in a certain way, then we have to do the work to repair that relationship. To mend those relationships, we continue to reach out, and we continue to make amends. We try to find solutions, come to a common ground, share our experiences as well as learn about their experiences in hopes that the relationship improves,” says Sergeant Chabine Tucker, Diversity Resource and Relations.

The OPS is committed to tackling systemic racism and discrimination, reducing violence, and ensuring a safer and more inclusive community for everyone.

For more information, visit ottawapolice.ca/EDI.