May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT), an important occasion to check in with ourselves here at West Coast LEAF about how consistently and effectively we are challenging these oppressions every day in our work. In September 2018, West Coast LEAF announced our expanded mandate to work towards justice and equality for all people … Read more More than a rainbow sticker
Please note: Legal information may not be up to date About the resource This plain language legal guide was developed for youth as part of our Legal Responses to Cyber Misogyny project. It explains what the law says about five common online situations that young people may experience. Is That Legal? was originally published in June 2014, and we were … Read more Is That Legal? revised edition – now multilingual!
In February 2017, West Coast LEAF’s Executive Director Kasari Govender traveled to Ottawa to appear before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Download a complete transcript of her presentation on legal aid, including the question and answer period. The audio of the session can also be streamed here. Submissions
Read our 2016 Annual Report. to learn about West Coast LEAF’s work for gender justice in the 2015/2016 fiscal year. Publications
Canada is a signatory to a number of international declarations and conventions that commit our governments to advancing the equality rights of women in BC. One such international treaty is the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW provides a comprehensive code of what women’s equality means in marriage, … Read more 2016 CEDAW Shadow Report
The project aims to identify strategies to reduce barriers in the justice system for sexual assault survivors through dialogue among key…
VANCOUVER – In a step backward for the legal profession, the BC Court of Appeal (“BCCA”) has dismissed an appeal regarding the Law Society of BC’s rejection of the proposed law school at Trinity Western University (“TWU”). In Trinity Western University and Brayden Volkenant v Law Society of British Columbia, the BCCA found that the Law Society’s decision … Read more Release: BC Court of Appeal decision a disappointing loss for equality
Joint Statement by Canadian Civil Society Organizations Today Canada’s record of women’s equality is under the spotlight at the United Nations in Geneva. The 65th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women happens at an opportune moment for Canadian women. Canada has a new federal government with a Prime Minister who … Read more Release: Canada held to account for its disappointing women’s rights record by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
In October 2016, West Coast LEAF partnered with the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC on a submission to the United Nations about the essential role of child care for fulfilling Canada’s obligations under CEDAW (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women). Our Director of Law Reform traveled to Geneva, Switzerland … Read more Joint submission to the UN on child care and CEDAW
For the 8th year in a row, West Coast LEAF has issued our CEDAW Report Card which grades BC’s progress in nine key areas in women’s rights, including access to justice, economic security, affordable housing and child care, and women’s health and safety. BC’s actions and inactions are assessed against the obligations set out in the UN Convention … Read more 2016 CEDAW Report Card