Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
Association Canadienne des Sociétés Elizabeth Fry
701-151 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3
Telephone : (613) 238-2422
Fax : (613) 232-7130
e-mail: caefs@web.ca

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF ELIZABETH FRY SOCIETIES
Annual General Meeting – Winnipeg, Manitoba – June 11, 2005

Executive Director's Report

Priority Issues and Law Reform Initiatives

This year, as we move into the 10th anniversary of the regionalization of CAEFS, we are pleased to be in Winnipeg for our Annual General Meeting. Indeed, it is likely that this region has experienced some of the most profound changes in the past decade with respect to the provision of services to women serving sentences of two years or more. With only four Elizabeth Fry Societies to cover the largest geographic region and the greatest number of prisons and federally sentenced women, the membership in this region is to be commended for the diligence and tenacity with which they have tackled a trebling of the number of women, particularly Aboriginal women in the system, the creation of community release and support services from the ground up, where virtually none existed ten years ago, and the ability to ensure that women in each of the three prisons have access to CAEFS’ regional advocacy via regular visits.

The work in this region is inspirational, especially in light of the many challenges that persist as we continue to see the exponential increase in the marginalization, criminalization and imprisonment of women throughout this country and globally. The following report will provide you with an overview of our challenges and achievements this past year, as well as some forecasting of the work that the membership projects for CAEFS.

1. Challenges to Laws and Policies

1. Report of the Canadian Human Rights Commission
   
   Approximately one year after they received the report of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, on October 26 – 28, 2004, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) hosted a human rights consultation with a number of the groups who made submissions to Canadian Human Rights Commission. Unfortunately, most of the members of CAEFS’ Human Rights Working Group were not able to attend because the meeting took place mid-week. Many of our coalition partners were also unable to send the representatives who participated in our collective work over the past two years, for the same reason. We are, however, pleased that we were able to continue to work well together.