Skip to content
LEAF logo
LEAF logo
DONATE
DONATE
MENU
LEAF logo

Contact

DONATE
DONATE
Informations en français
  • English
  • Français
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Mission & Vision
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Law Program Committee
    • FAQs
  • Cases and Law Reform
    • Our Work
    • Issue Areas
      • Reproductive Justice
      • Indigenous Rights and Law
      • Identity-Based Oppression
      • Hate Speech and Online Hate
      • Sexual Assault and Consent Law
      • Gender-Based Violence
      • Access to Justice
      • Workplace Rights
      • Socio-Economic Rights
      • Family Law
    • Search Cases & Submissions
    • Current Work
      • Accountability Project
      • Avenues to Justice
      • Strengthening Community Capacity
      • Technology-Facilitated Violence
      • Valuing the Care Economy
    • Past Projects
    • Legal Resources
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Workshops, trainings & webinars
    • Factsheets & infographics
  • News & Events
    • Search News & Events
    • Events
  • Publications
    • Search Publications
    • Working Papers
    • Reports
    • Annual Reports
  • Regional Branches
    • Overview
    • LEAF Calgary
    • LEAF Edmonton
    • LEAF Halifax
    • LEAF Hamilton
    • LEAF Kitchener-Waterloo
    • LEAF London
    • LEAF Newfoundland & Labrador
    • LEAF Ottawa
    • LEAF Saskatchewan
    • LEAF Sudbury
    • LEAF Toronto
    • LEAF Windsor
    • LEAF Winnipeg
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Donate to LEAF
    • Join a Branch
    • Volunteer
    • Become a LEAF Pro Bono Lawyer
    • Partner with LEAF
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Mission & Vision
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Law Program Committee
    • FAQs
  • Cases and Law Reform
    • Our Work
    • Issue Areas
      • Reproductive Justice
      • Indigenous Rights and Law
      • Identity-Based Oppression
      • Hate Speech and Online Hate
      • Sexual Assault and Consent Law
      • Gender-Based Violence
      • Access to Justice
      • Workplace Rights
      • Socio-Economic Rights
      • Family Law
    • Search Cases & Submissions
    • Current Work
      • Accountability Project
      • Avenues to Justice
      • Strengthening Community Capacity
      • Technology-Facilitated Violence
      • Valuing the Care Economy
    • Past Projects
    • Legal Resources
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Workshops, trainings & webinars
    • Factsheets & infographics
  • News & Events
    • Search News & Events
    • Events
  • Publications
    • Search Publications
    • Working Papers
    • Reports
    • Annual Reports
  • Regional Branches
    • Overview
    • LEAF Calgary
    • LEAF Edmonton
    • LEAF Halifax
    • LEAF Hamilton
    • LEAF Kitchener-Waterloo
    • LEAF London
    • LEAF Newfoundland & Labrador
    • LEAF Ottawa
    • LEAF Saskatchewan
    • LEAF Sudbury
    • LEAF Toronto
    • LEAF Windsor
    • LEAF Winnipeg
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Donate to LEAF
    • Join a Branch
    • Volunteer
    • Become a LEAF Pro Bono Lawyer
    • Partner with LEAF
Home / News & Events / Search News & Events

News

LEAF’s 2016 Legal Highlights

LEAF intervened in several high profile cases and initiatives in 2016. Here are our legal highlights for the past year. Thank you for supporting our organization.

legalchallenge

A Historic Victory for Women and Reproductive Justice in PEI!
Since 1982, safe, legal abortion services have not been available in Prince Edward Island (PEI). In 2014, a fantastic, dedicated group of activists who have long advocated for abortion access in PEI invited LEAF to join their struggle. LEAF supported Abortion Access Now PEI to bring a legal challenge to PEI’s abortion policy. The application sought full and unrestricted access to on-Island, publicly funded abortion services for PEI women. On March 31, 2016, the PEI Premier announced that in the face of the legal challenge, his government would open a reproductive health clinic in PEI by the end of 2016. The legal challenge was integral to bringing about this remarkable result, finally gaining access to abortion services for women residing in PEI. After over 30 years of struggle, PEI women will be able to access abortion safely and legally in their own province! Click here to learn more.

justice-camp-inquiry

This fall, LEAF attended the Canadian Judicial Council Inquiry Regarding Justice Robin Camp in Calgary. LEAF, in coalition with five other feminist organizations, intervened in the inquiry into Justice Camp’s conduct during a 2014 sexual assault trial in Alberta, when he infamously asked the complainant, a 19-year-old Indigenous woman who was homeless at the time of the assault, “Why couldn’t you just keep your knees together?” LEAF intervened to make arguments about the systemic impact on sexual assault survivors of judicial conduct such as that of Justice Camp. The Coalition ensured that a feminist voice for survivors was heard in the inquiry process. Click here to learn more.

rvmb

In January, LEAF appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in R v MB, an infanticide case where LEAF was the sole feminist intervener. Infanticide cases are rare, tragic and typically involve young, socially isolated and otherwise marginalized women who cause the death of their newly-born children. The Crown argued that the young woman should be convicted of murder, with a mandatory life sentence, whereas infanticide has a maximum sentence of five years. LEAF argued that the mitigating framework of infanticide is still necessary due to the social context of women’s inequality to which it responds. The Court affirmed that judges should have the discretion to recognize the overlapping social, economic, psychological, medical and other effects of childbirth in the commission of the crime. Click here to learn more.

gladue

In September, the Alberta Court of Appeal heard the Crown’s appeal in the Cindy Gladue
murder case, R v Barton. An Indigenous woman, mother and daughter, Cindy Gladue bled to death in a hotel bathroom in Edmonton. The jury believed the defence argument that she had consented to ‘rough sex’ and acquitted the man accused of her murder. LEAF and our partner, the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, believe this outcome is deeply worrisome for the law of consent and reflects society’s widespread disregard for violence against Indigenous women. Chief Justice Catherine Fraser referenced the LEAF/IAAW factum in positive terms during the hearing. Click here to learn more.

mmiw

LEAF is a founding member of the Legal Strategy Coalition on Violence Against Indigenous Women.
LEAF continues to explore ways in which it can address the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIW). LEAF participated in symposia earlier this year intended to assist with the design process for the national inquiry on MMIW, and intends to actively monitor the inquiry as it moves forward. Click here to learn more.

Let's Change The Law to Uphold Gender Equality
Donate
Join Us!

Related Project

Loading...
A senor patient of African decent, sits across the desk from her female doctor as they go over her recent lab results on a tablet in front of them.  The woman is dressed casually and leaning in closely to look at the screen as the doctor explains what she is seeing.
Current Work
Valuing the Care Economy

Related Cases

Loading...

Attorney General of Québec v. Kanyinda  

This case is about refugee claimant women’s eligibility for subsidized daycare in Quebec. 

Fair Voting BC v. Canada (Attorney General) 

This case is about the underrepresentation of women and racialized people in Parliament. 
More Cases

Related Issue Area

Loading...

Identity-Based Oppression

LEAF_FAEJ_hz_names_colour_rgb_rev
Donate to support equality

National Office
180 Dundas Street West, Suite 1420
Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8
[email protected]
Phone: 416.595.7170
Toll-free: 1.888.824.5323
Facsimile: 416.595.7191

Linkedin

Stay up to date on feminist law and LEAF’s work to advance gender equality



LEAF_FAEJ_hz_names_colour_rgb_rev

National Office
180 Dundas Street West, Suite 1420
Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8
[email protected]
Phone: 416.595.7170
Fax: 416.595.7191

Charitable Registration Number: 10821 9916 RR0001

Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Linkedin

Stay up to date on feminist law and LEAF’s work to advance gender equality



Donate to support equality
Donate to support equality

© 2020 Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund (LEAF). All rights reserved. | Legal & Privacy | Accessibility | Website by Affinity Bridge

MENU

  • About
    • Our Story
    • Mission & Vision
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Law Program Committee
    • FAQs
  • Cases and Law Reform
    • Our Work
    • Issue Areas
      • Reproductive Justice
      • Indigenous Rights and Law
      • Identity-Based Oppression
      • Hate Speech and Online Hate
      • Sexual Assault and Consent Law
      • Gender-Based Violence
      • Access to Justice
      • Workplace Rights
      • Socio-Economic Rights
      • Family Law
    • Search Cases & Submissions
    • Current Work
      • Accountability Project
      • Avenues to Justice
      • Strengthening Community Capacity
      • Technology-Facilitated Violence
      • Valuing the Care Economy
    • Past Projects
    • Legal Resources
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Workshops, trainings & webinars
    • Factsheets & infographics
  • News & Events
    • Search News & Events
    • Events
  • Publications
    • Search Publications
    • Working Papers
    • Reports
    • Annual Reports
  • Regional Branches
    • Overview
    • LEAF Calgary
    • LEAF Edmonton
    • LEAF Halifax
    • LEAF Hamilton
    • LEAF Kitchener-Waterloo
    • LEAF London
    • LEAF Newfoundland & Labrador
    • LEAF Ottawa
    • LEAF Saskatchewan
    • LEAF Sudbury
    • LEAF Toronto
    • LEAF Windsor
    • LEAF Winnipeg
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Donate to LEAF
    • Join a Branch
    • Volunteer
    • Become a LEAF Pro Bono Lawyer
    • Partner with LEAF
  • English
  • Français