{"id":11583,"date":"2019-08-29T15:23:47","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T19:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leaf.ca\/?p=11583"},"modified":"2020-10-26T05:14:11","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T09:14:11","slug":"leaf-pleased-ontario-court-recognizes-the-serious-nature-of-harm-to-women-caused-by-hate-speech-in-r-v-sears","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.leaf.ca\/fr\/news\/leaf-pleased-ontario-court-recognizes-the-serious-nature-of-harm-to-women-caused-by-hate-speech-in-r-v-sears\/","title":{"rendered":"LEAF pleased Ontario court recognizes the serious nature of harm to women caused by hate speech in R v Sears"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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LEAF applauds an Ontario court\u2019s sentencing decisions in the case of James Sears and LeRoy St. Germaine. Sears and St. Germaine, who were editor and publisher of a community newsletter Your Ward News, were found guilty in January 2019 of 2 counts of willfully promoting hatred. Sears received a 12-month jail sentence and St. Germaine was sentenced to 12 months\u2019 house arrest<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We welcome the court\u2019s characterization of hate promoted towards women as especially aggravating since the defendants\u2019 (St. Germaine and Sears) materials advocated for the commission of physical and sexual violence against women. This greatly undermines women from feeling safe in their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, hate speech perpetuates harmful stereotypes, which act as barriers to equality for women in all areas of their life. The reinforcement of negative stereotypes risks contributing to prejudice and bias against women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these reasons, LEAF submitted a Community Impact Statement<\/a> <\/strong>at the sentencing, which outlined how hate speech negatively effects women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Statement identified and discussed the following impacts of hate speech on women:<\/p>\n\n\n\n