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 – Kelowna, B.C. – May 27, 2006

Executive Director's Report

Priority Issues and Law Reform Initiatives

Returning to Kelowna for our Annual General Meeting reminds us that it was here that we took the important decision to refocus our policy and law reform energies on preventing women from going to prison and working to decarcerate those whose imprisonment we could not prevent. That decision 13 years ago to no longer support the burgeoning prison industry was one of the most hopeful decisions an organization like ours could take. At a time when we are experiencing the retreat of the social, health and educational supports of the state and the increased incursion of the state in the form of regressive criminal justice and prison reforms, there is much to discourage us. We see too many others shrinking from grasping the nettle, at precisely the time that individual and systemic advocacy are most needed.

We are most fortunate, however, to have an organization of many committed women who are to be commended for the diligence and tenacity with which we continue to work to address and alleviate the many issues related to the burgeoning prison population, particularly in relation to the exponentially criminalized groups of Aboriginal and other racialized women and women with disabling mental health issues. At the local level, our 25 members have breathed life into our mission by developing increasingly innovative and responsive services and programs for marginalized, victimized, criminalized and imprisoned women and girls.

Coalitions have been forged and bonds strengthened between our members and those of affiliated organizations working to increase access to equality and justice via strategies aimed at ending oppressive and discriminatory practices and policies, especially those that marginalize and discriminate on the basis of sex, class, race, culture, ability, sexual orientation and geographic location. The exciting prospects of the Human Rights in Action project, combined with the creation of some innovative community release and support services will also increase our ability to ensure that women in each of the federal prisons for women have increased access to advocacy aimed at furthering their movement through and out of prison.

Today’s challenges inspire us to continue our struggles against injustice and strive for substantive equality in increasingly creative and far-reaching ways. The work of our organization 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. CAEFS has earned a position of leadership nationally and internationally amongst women’s, equality and justice groups.