The Office of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, and Mediation (OHRCRM) at the University of Windsor is dedicated to advancing a campus environment that is equitable, inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination, harassment, and systemic barriers. Guided by principles of fairness, integrity, accountability, and trauma-informed practice, the OHRCRM serves as a central resource for education, prevention, intervention, and resolution of human rights concerns, conflicts, and complaints within the University.
Core Responsibilities
The OHRCRM's mandate is multifaceted, encompassing proactive educational initiatives and responsive complaint resolution. Its core responsibilities include:
Proactively developing and delivering comprehensive education and training programs for all campus constituencies. These initiatives are designed to enhance awareness of human rights, equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), conflict resolution, and bystander intervention, with the goal of preventing incidents of discrimination and harassment before they occur.
Respond to inquiries related to alleged discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and breaches of human rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code, University policies, and applicable legislative frameworks. Offer guidance, referrals, and support in navigating complaint pathways.
Exercising discretionary authority, based on established criteria, to determine the most appropriate pathway for resolving complaints, which may include personal, informal, or formal resolution processes.
Advising senior administration on the development and revision of university policies and procedures to ensure compliance with human rights legislation and best practices. The OHRCRM will identify and address systemic barriers to equity and inclusion by analyzing complaint data, environmental scans, and community feedback to recommend proactive, systemic changes.
Preparing and publishing regular, anonymized statistical reports for the university community and senior leadership to ensure transparency and accountability. The Office is also responsible for fulfilling all mandatory government reporting requirements related to human rights and equity.
Confidentiality and Impartiality
Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the OHRCRM's practice. All interactions with the Office are held in strict confidence. The staff of the OHRCRM are neutral parties who do not advocate for any individual, group, or department, but rather for a fair and equitable process. Information will not be shared without the express consent of the individual, except in circumstances where there is a clear and imminent risk of serious harm to an individual or the community, or where disclosure is required by law.
Governance and Oversight
The Director of the Office of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, and Mediation is responsible for the overall administration and strategic direction of the OHRCRM. The Office of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Mediation is a division of the Office of the Vice-President, People, Equity, and Inclusion.