| ANNUAL REPORT 1998-1999 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. AFFILIATIONS - Strengthening the Ties CAEFS continues to maintain and strengthen its ties with other national justice, women's and voluntary organizations. Some of the key umbrella and member groups with whom we work include: the National Associations Active in Criminal Justice (NAACJ); Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE) the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC); the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF); the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC); Pauktuutit, the Inuit Women's Association; the Métis National Council of Women; the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres (CASAC); the DisAbled Women's Network (DAWN); the Congress of Black Women; the National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO); the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC); National Voluntary Organizations (NVO); the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL); the National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of Canada (NOIVMWC); and the United Way National Agencies Committee. For copies of CAEFS’ position papers or additional information, please contact Kim Pate directly at kpate@web.net, visit the CAEFS Home Page at http://www.elizabethfry.ca, telephone us at (613) 238-2422 or fax us at (613) 232-7130. Solicitor General Canada *BN/Registration Number 10807 4980 RR0001 THANK YOU! Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver Elizabeth Fry Society, Hamilton Branch Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society Elizabeth Fry Society of Kingston Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba Elizabeth Fry Society of New Brunswick Inc. Elizabeth Fry Society of Newfoundland & Labrador
Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry Society
Société Elizabeth Fry du Québec
Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society Elizabeth Fry Society of Sudbury Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto [English] [Français] [E-Mail: kpate@web.net] |