Women's equality and religious freedom
In 2005, West Coast LEAF initiated the Women’s Equality and Religious Freedom (WERF) Project to address the issues that emerge when religious freedom and women’s equality intersect.
The overarching question of this project is: “How should the principles of substantive equality that LEAF has been instrumental in developing be applied when considering the complexities of the rights of individuals, particularly women, within religious and cultural minorities given our commitment to religious freedom, anti-racism, and genuine multiculturalism?”
The project began with a National Consultation in December 2004 that brought together academics, lawyers and community organizations to discuss the two issues: Bountiful – a polygamous closed community in BC’s interior – and the consideration of including Muslim personal law in the Family Arbitration Act in Ontario. One of the outcomes of that consultation was the creation of the WERF Project.
Harsha Walia facilitated a multi-faith advisory committee that was asked to consider a variety of questions stemming from the one central question above. It proved to be a very challenging endeavor to come up with answers, but a report of the process and outcomes is completed.
The outcomes of the project may be educational programming, but at the very least it will allow us to make informed arguments when the intersections between Charter Section 2(a) - which guarantees freedom of religion - and Charter Section 15 - which guarantees equality to disadvantaged groups - are before the courts. We anticipate that the courts will have to consider these issues should there be any legal action related to Bountiful and the lines and limitations of the law will be defined.
Please click on titles to access the National Consultation Report, the Advisory Committee report and the Report on Phase 3 Consultations: Vancouver Area Faith Based Communities. For more information contact us.
