Gender Equality Report Card
The Gender Equality Report Card is an ongoing project that assesses the BC government’s progress in advancing gender equality…
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181 results for: Gender-based violence
Release: Rights group in court to defend right of Single Mothers’ Alliance to challenge BC’s family law legal aid regime
Tuesday, August 23, 2022—For Immediate Release Vancouver, unceded Coast Salish homelands—Today, West Coast LEAF is in court to defend the public interest standing of the Centre for Family Equity (CFE), formerly known as Single Mothers’ Alliance (SMA) in their constitutional challenge to BC’s family law legal aid regime. In an outrageous attack on access to … Read more Release: Rights group in court to defend right of Single Mothers’ Alliance to challenge BC’s family law legal aid regime
Release: Supreme Court deems non-consensual condom removal sexual assault
For Immediate Release – Friday, July 29, 2022 Ottawa, unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory—Today, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released a decision in R. v Kirkpatrick that will result in a broader recognition of non-consensual condom refusal or removal as sexual assault under the law. The Court confirmed that a person can make their partner’s … Read more Release: Supreme Court deems non-consensual condom removal sexual assault
Help us ensure safety for women and gender diverse refugees
Many of you have been following the challenge to the Safe Third Country Act (STCA) and its impact on refugees seeking safety and freedom from persecution in their country of origin. The case has now made it up to Canada’s highest court, and West Coast LEAF will be there to highlight how the STCA endangers refugees, and … Read more Help us ensure safety for women and gender diverse refugees
More good news from the Supreme Court of Canada!
Today, the Supreme Court of Canada released a decision that improves protections for sexual assault survivors in criminal trials. The decision in R v J.J. and A.S. v Her Majesty the Queen et al. will have a major impact on how courts handle sexual assault cases, and how a survivor’s private records can be used. Learn more about the protections for … Read more More good news from the Supreme Court of Canada!
Release: Supreme Court releases decision that protects sexual assault survivors in criminal trials
For Immediate Release – Thursday, June 30, 2022 Ottawa, unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory—The Supreme Court of Canada released a decision today that will improve protections for sexual assault survivors in criminal trials. The decision in R v J.J. and A.S. v Her Majesty the Queen et al. has significant implications for how courts handle sexual … Read more Release: Supreme Court releases decision that protects sexual assault survivors in criminal trials
Submission to BC’s inquiry into hate during the COVID-19 pandemic
In August 2021, the BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (BCOHRC) launched a human rights inquiry into surging hate during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2022, West Coast LEAF made written submissions to the inquiry regarding the concerning rise in the incidents and severity of gender-based violence, particularly intimate partner violence, during the pandemic. … Read more Submission to BC’s inquiry into hate during the COVID-19 pandemic
Hansman v Neufeld [2022]
Case summary This case is about the proper interpretation and application of BC’s Protection of Public Participation Act (PPPA). The PPPA was enacted to stop corporations and people with power from using the legal system to silence those who speak out on public interest matters. Section 4 of the PPPA allows a court to dismiss an otherwise meritorious lawsuit when the … Read more Hansman v Neufeld [2022]
Victory for survivors of family violence
In an important victory for survivors of family violence, the Supreme Court of Canada released a decision in Barendregt v Grebliunas that will have far-reaching impacts on how the courts identify family violence, protect survivors, and ensure the best interests of children. We’re thrilled that the Court adopted many of our arguments that we set out alongside our friends … Read more Victory for survivors of family violence
BC’s Budget 2022 fails to take bold action on gender-based violence
Earlier this week, we were at BC’s 2022 Budget presentation in Victoria on the unceded Coast Salish homelands of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. While West Coast LEAF welcomes BC’s announcement that it will reverse cuts that were made in 2002 and provide core funding to community-based sexual assault response organizations, Budget 2022 fails to … Read more BC’s Budget 2022 fails to take bold action on gender-based violence