Justice

This section contains material on feminist advocacy for change through and within the Canadian justice system. Items reflect initiatives to challenge and shape laws and legal interpretations, as well as address treatment by the legal and prison system. Strategies included court cases and legal strategies, campaigns to influence governmental decisions, and collective bargaining.

More about Justice

Key themes:

  • Expanding women’s legal rights and standing with respect to a wide range of concerns
  • Addressing systemic violence and discrimination within the overall justice and prison system, reflected in the representation and treatment of women, as well as available supports particularly for women who are marginalized
  • Women’s participation and visibility in the legal profession and related institutions and bodies

Sub-Issues

Rights
Laws
Prison System

Archival Materials

Buttons

The button calls for justice for Pauline Au and an end to sexual harassment. After experiencing sexual harassment that started in the early 1990s, Pauline brought a charge against the hospital where she worked to the Ontario Labour Relations Board in 1997.
Justice for Pauline Au – Stop Sexual Harassment

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This undated button by unknown source calls for resisting violence, revolting against oppression, and reclaiming freedom.
Resist Violence – Revolt Oppression – Reclaim Freedom

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English

Documents
A Long Way Yet to Go (Forum) – February 1983

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Author(s):

    Shelagh Luka

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
AGM & Lobby (1972): Strategy for Change – Conference Materials

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
AGM & Lobby (1972): Strategy for Change Conference – Emergency Statement

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
AGM & Lobby (1991): Report to OCUFA

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Author(s):

    Linda Briskin

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Dr. Morgentaler Press Release

  • Year created:

    1974

  • Author(s):

    Dr. Henry Morgentaler

  • Region:

    Quebec

  • Language:

    English
Highlights from Canadian Charter Equality Rights for Women: One Step Forward or Two Steps Back?

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

    Gwen Brodsky, Shelagh Day

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Issues & Campaigns (1991): Women Offer 52% Solution

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
New Feminists Letter on Human Rights Code

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of Rally Against Racism Statement – February 1989
Rally Against Racism Statement – February 1989

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Reports (1993): Review of the Situation of Women in Canada

  • Year created:

    1993

  • Author(s):

    Punam Khosla

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of Statement of Women’s Coalition Against Racism & Police Violence-December 1989Toronto
Statement of Women’s Coalition Against Racism & Police Violence-December 1989,Toronto

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Technical Report: Legal Information and Wife Abuse in Immigrant Families

  • Year created:

    1994

  • Author(s):

    San San Sy, Sudha Choldin

  • Region:

    Alberta

  • Language:

    English
Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) Donor Letter

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English

Films

Still from the film "My Name is Kahenttiosta" featuring an image of Kahenttiosta and her son. and a Mohawk Warrior flag.
My Name Is Kahentiiosta

  • Year created:

    1995

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Alanis Obomsawin

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    Quebec

Periodicals

Leaf Lines/FAEJ Exprès

LEAF Lines/FAEJ Exprès – Vol. 4, No. 1 – November 1990

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Publisher:

    Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)

  • Author(s):

    Elizabeth Lennon

  • Language:

    English and French

Newsletter of the National Association of Women and The Law

National Association of Women and the Law /Association nationale de la femme et le driot – Vol. 4, No. 1 – August 1981

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Publisher:

    National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL)/Association nationale de la femme et le driot (ANFD)

  • Author(s):

    Cynthia Hasting Zinck, Monique Charlebois , Tamra Thomson, Beverley Mitchell, Michelle Landsberg, Mona Brown, Vida Vukadinovic, Elizabeth Gray

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
National Association of Women and the Law /Association nationale de la femme et le driot – Vol. 5, No. 9 – February 1985

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Publisher:

    National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL)/Association nationale de la femme et le driot (ANFD)

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
National Association of Women and the Law /Association nationale de la femme et le driot – Vol. 6, No. 1 – June 1985

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Publisher:

    National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL)/Association nationale de la femme et le driot (ANFD)

  • Author(s):

    Nancy Greenwood

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
National Association of Women and the Law /Association nationale de la femme et le driot – Vol. 6, No. 2 – October 1985

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Publisher:

    National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) /Association nationale de la femme et le driot (AFND)

  • Author(s):

    Gretchen Pohlkamp , Louise Lamb, Devora Solem, Gwen Brodsky, Suzanne Boivin, Sidney Fisher

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
National Association of Women and the Law/Association nationale de la femme et le driot – Vol. 5, No. 6 – March 1984

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Publisher:

    National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL)/Association nationale de la femme et le driot (ANFD)

  • Author(s):

    Linda Charlton , Leslie Pearl, Michelle Landsberg, Susan Devine

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
National Association of Women and the Law/Association nationale de la femme et le droit – Vol. 5, No. 1 – January 1983

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Publisher:

    National Association of Women and The Law (NAWL)/Association nationale de la femme et le droit (ANFD)

  • Author(s):

    Nola Silzer , Vicki Schmolka, Margaret Mitchell, Monique Charlebois, Dorothy Lipovenko, Michele Landsberg, Marina Strauss, Norma Scarborough, Lisa Freedman, Susan Ursel

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
National Association of Women and the Law/Association nationale de la femme et le droit – Vol.7, No. 2 – October 1986

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Publisher:

    National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL)/Association nationale de la femme et le droit (ANFD)

  • Author(s):

    Nadine McDonnell, Phyllis MacRae, Louise Lamb, Catherine Hagen, Danielle Blondin, Suzanne Guévremont, Jennifer Conkie, Lauri Ann Fenlon, Shona Moore, Monique Charlebois, Frances Gordon, Anne Shields, Judith Kenacan, Helena Orton, Nola Silzer, Gwen Brodsky

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French

Photos

Photo of a banner highlighting violence against women and the impact of funding cuts to women's programs and services. It was part of the Banner Project, which asked women's groups across Canada to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Battered Women’s Support Services

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Photo of the Campbell River Woman's Center banner with the slogan "A Woman's Place is Everywhere". Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Campbell River Woman’s Center

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
The CARAL banner highlights the National Day of Action on October 13,1990, and the slogan "Don't Criminalise Abortion in Canada." Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): CARAL

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Photo of one section of the Banner Project showing CUPE 2424 slogans including "Tory Economics = Working Poor" as well as the Women's Centre, St. Thomas University's "Fight Sexism; Fight Racism". Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): CUPE 2424

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Healthsharing's banner calls for free accessible healthcare for all women. It is one section of a huge banner made up of individual protest messages created by women's groups across Canada. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Healthsharing

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
"Montreal 6 December 1989" is the message of this banner. It was one of many protest banners created for the Banner Project (1990) when women's groups across Canada were asked to write a message that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Montreal 6 Dec. 1989

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Women's Committee banner was filled with dozens of signatures alongside the slogan "Facing the Challenges". It was part of The Banner Project which asked women's groups across Canada to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Women’s Committee

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
The theme of the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre's banner is "Women Power." The Banner Project asked women's groups across Canada to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Photo showing several of the banners representing different Québec and francophone women's groups in front of the Parliament Building in Ottawa. They were part of the Banner Project which asked groups across Canada to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Parliament Hill

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
The slogan of the Port Alberni Women's Centre banner was "Rural women need access to...." along with a list that included jobs, education, social services, and housing. It was part of the Banner Project which asked women's groups across Canada to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Port Alberni Women’s Centre

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Photo from the Banner Project in 1990 showing B.C. Federation banner depicting the fight to end women's inequality as a Snakes and Ladders game. Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Snakes and Ladders

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Photo of the Sudbury Women's Centre/Le centre des femmes section of the Banner Project. Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Sudbury Women’s Centre – Le centre des femmes

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Photo of one section of the Banner Project and featuring the message, "Toutes ensemble pour un pouvoir féministe". Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Toutes ensemble pour un pouvoir féministe

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Photo of the Vancouver Women's Health Collective section of the Banner Project. Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Photo of the protest banner created for the Banner Project by Waterlily, a feminist newspaper in Newfoundland and Labrador. Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Waterlily

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
This banner was part of the Banner Project and focuses on the extent of wife assault and homicide in Canada. The Banner Project asked women's groups across Canada to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Wife assault a leading cause of homicide

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Photo of the Women's Research Centre of Vancouver banner which called for funding for feminist research to be restored. This banner was one of many created by women's groups across Canada that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Women’s Research Centre of Vancouver

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)