2. Plenary Presentation - Women in Prisons: The Canadian Experience

In this presentation, the situation of women prisoners in Canada will be examined. In addition to providing an overview of the successes and challenges faced by women prisoners, advocates and correctional services as they have attempted to work together in Canada to develop a new framework for addressing issues pertaining to women offending, Kim will highlight the results of the unique vision and contributions of the First Nations women who have worked to try to counter the condition of institutionalization that colonization has visited upon their people. This presentation will identify legislative, policy and programming initiatives and reforms that have been part of Canada's experience with women's imprisonment, with particular focus upon two significant reports, the Report of the Task Force on Federally Sentenced Women, sub-titled, Creating Choices, and the Report of Madam Justice Louise Arbour following her Commission of Inquiry into Certain Events at the Prison for Women in Kingston. Community based options available to and for women in Canada, as well as some of the current challenges faced by young women who come into conflict with the law in Canada, and the increasing push for regressive law reform will also be highlighted.