Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies

ANNUAL REPORT 1997-1998

NATIONAL ELIZABETH FRY WEEK - Challenging Stereotypes and Encouraging Proactive Action

The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies celebrates National Elizabeth Fry Week annually. Elizabeth Fry Societies across the country organize public events in their communities throughout the week.

Our goal is to enhance public awareness and education regarding the circumstances of women involved in the criminal justice system. We hope to challenge and gradually break down the negative stereotypes that exist about women who come into conflict with the law.

National Elizabeth Fry Week is always the week preceding Mother’s Day. The majority of women who come into conflict with the law are mothers. Most of them were the sole supporters of their families at the time they were incarcerated. When mothers are sentenced to prison, their children are sentenced to separation. We try to draw attention to this reality by ending Elizabeth Fry Week on Mother's Day each year.

By focusing on “Alternatives to Incarceration” this year, our 23 member societies hope to encourage the Canadian public to examine some productive and responsible means of encouraging community responses to addressing criminal justice matters from coast to coast. Our hope is that, particularly in this time of fiscal restraint, this sort of proactive focus will encourage the development of and support for community-based alternatives to costly incarceration, particularly for non-violent offenders. Our aim is to increase public awareness of the myriad issues facing women in prison and gradually break down the stereotypes of women in conflict with the law. In addition, CAEFS initiates and responds to media awareness and coverage of the myriad relevant issues on an ongoing basis.

CAEFS challenges Canadians to reach behind the walls and bring women into the communities, so that they may take responsibility and account for their actions in ways that make sense to them and to us.