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Home / Cases and Law Reform / Issue Areas
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ISsue Area

Sexual Assault and Consent Law

LEAF has played a significant role in advancing Canadian sexual assault laws through a feminist and equality lens.  Freedom from violence, including sexual violence, is a necessary condition for gender equality.  

LEAF has been involved in nearly every significant change to the law of sexual assault in its 35 years of existence, including intervening in almost every precedent-setting Supreme Court of Canada case to ensure that the Court gave full protection to complainants’ rights to equality, privacy, and dignity. 

In 1988, LEAF intervened in the Canadian Newspapers Co. v. Canada (Attorney General) case to ensure that sexual assault victims would have a right to prevent publication of their names.  

Since then, LEAF argued before the Supreme Court that: 

  • rape myths have no place in Canadian courts;  
  • consent requires affirmative communication; 
  • survivors of residential school sexual assault should be compensated;  
  • women should not be deterred from reporting their assaults because they wear a niqab and  
  • women sexual assault complainants labelled with intellectual disabilities deserve equal access to justice.

Although the Supreme Court of Canada has clearly stated that myths and stereotypes about complainants have no place in sexual assault law, they continue to permeate too many sexual assault trials, undermining the equality rights of complainants. LEAF will continue our advocacy to ensure that those experiencing sexual violence are treated with equality, dignity and respect before and under the law.  

La loi sur l’agressions sexuelles et le consentement 

Le FAEJ a joué un rôle important dans l’avancement des lois canadiennes sur les agressions sexuelles dans une optique féministe et d’égalité. L’absence de violence, y compris la violence sexuelle, est une condition nécessaire à l’égalité des genres.

Le FAEJ a été impliquée dans presque tous les changements importants apportés aux lois concernant les agressions sexuelles au cours de ses 35 années d’existence, y compris en intervenant dans presque toutes les causes devant la Cour suprême du Canada qui ont créé un précédent pour s’assurer que la Cour protège pleinement les droits des plaignantes à l’égalité, la vie privée et la dignité.

En 1988, Le FAEJ a intervenue dans la cause Canadian Newspapers Co. v. Canada (Attorney General) pour assurer que les victimes d’agression sexuelle auraient le droit d’empêcher la publication de leurs noms. 

Depuis lors, le FAEJ a plaidé devant la Cour suprême que : 

  • les mythes concernant le viol n’ont pas leur place dans les tribunaux canadiens;  
  • le consentement nécessite la communication affirmative; 
  • les survivants d’une agression sexuelle dans un pensionnat devraient être indemnisés;  
  • les femmes ne devraient pas être dissuadées de signaler qu’elles ont été agressées parce qu’elles portent un niqab  et  
  • les femmes plaignantes d’agression sexuelle étiquetées comme ayant une déficience intellectuelle méritent un accès égal à la justice.

Bien que la Cour suprême du Canada ait clairement déclaré que les mythes et les stéréotypes à propos des plaignantes n’avaient pas leur place dans le droit concernant les agressions sexuelles, ils continuent à trop imprégner des procès pour agression sexuelle, ce qui porte atteinte aux droits à l’égalité des plaignantes. Le FAEJ poursuivra son plaidoyer pour garantir que les personnes victimes de violences sexuelles soient traitées avec égalité, dignité et respect devant et sous la loi.

Related Cases & Law Reform

Cases

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R. v. Slatter (2020)

This case concerned access to justice for women labelled with intellectual disabilities. LEAF, in partnership with the DisAbled Women’s Network...

R. v. Sullivan; R. v. Chan (2019)

This case concerned the ability to use self-induced extreme intoxication as a defence to assault and sexual assault offences.   LEAF intervened before...

R. v. Boyle (2019)

This case concerned the rights of complainants in sexual assault trials, where an accused seeks to cross-examine a complainant on their prior...

R. v. Jarvis (2019)

This case concerned the meaning of voyeurism under the Criminal Code, and students’ reasonable expectations of privacy in their schools.  LEAF intervened...
See More

Submissions

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LEAF appears before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
LEAF submission on Bill C-51 reforms to sexual assault law
See More

News

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LEAF Statement: Bradley Barton found guilty for the killing of Cindy Gladue
Announcement: Supreme Court of Canada recognizes harmful and ableist myths about women with disabilities have no place in sexual assault trials in R. v. Slatter
See More
Cases and Law Reform
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    National Office
    180 Dundas Street West, Suite 1420
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    [email protected]
    Phone: 416.595.7170
    Toll-free: 1.888.824.5323
    Facsimile: 416.595.7191

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