In terms of other lessons we learned, the decision to develop strategies to provide support and promote marginalized groups worked extremely well on the whole. There was a remarkable synchronicity between the number of women who were subsidized, received caucus rooms, were included as plenary presenters, spoke at the microphone during the plenary sessions, presented workshops and utilized the services that generally were provided for them.

C.   Agenda for Action and Conclusions

1.   Future Work for CAEFS and CASAC

The Women's Resistance Conference generated many new activities and interests for both organizations, as well as many other individuals and organizations working on women's equality and social justice issues in Canada. Of particular interest to both CAEFS and CASAC, however, is the growing interest within both organizations for a national meeting to discuss what women should be doing about several issues that are of significant interest to both organizations. For instance, the issue of self-defence and the manner in which the law is applied to women who defend themselves is an issue for both organizations about which significant law reform work remains to be done. For both groups, it is an issue of community understanding of legal information, a matter of policing and criminal prosecution, a matter of criminal justice reform regarding self defence and provocation, as well as the gendering of charging, prosecuting and sentencing.

In addition, issues pertaining to cognitive disabilities and mental health issues within the populations of women served by both organizations are also a growing concern. In halfway houses and transition houses alike, women with cognitive and mental disabilities pose significant challenges with respect to the need for protection and development of agency in the provision of services with and for those women and others for whom the shelters and halfway houses have been established historically. Furthermore, the complications of intersection with issues of addictions and chronic poverty and homelessness compound these problems.

In addition, both organizations would like to discuss strategies for addressing issues pertaining to violence against women and the increasing criminalization of women. We share an interest in the criminalization of women's adaptations to poverty, sexist physical abuse and sexually predatory behaviour. These interests require resourcing however, and therefore, both organizations look forward to future funding opportunities in order to enhance the potential for working together on local, provincial, regional and national issues.