Welcome to this week’s biweekly bulletin! FEWO – Section 810 of the Criminal Code & Women’s Safety the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, FEWO, is currently undertaking several key studies. They are examining women’s safety in relation to Section 810 of the Criminal Code, exploring how peace bonds, bail, and sentencing can better protect women from repeat offenders. …
Why Striking Down Minimum Sentences for Child Exploitation Crimes Puts Our Kids at Risk
The Supreme Court of Canada’s recent decision to remove the mandatory one-year minimum sentence for people who possess or access child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is deeply troubling. While the Court emphasized giving judges more flexibility in sentencing, this ruling weakens how our legal system responds to one of the most harmful forms of sexual exploitation. What Happened in the …
Bill S-209: What You Need to Know About Canada’s Online Pornography Law
The internet has made it easier than ever for kids to stumble across harmful content, including pornography. Research shows that exposure at a young age can cause serious harm, from reinforcing unhealthy ideas about relationships to increasing risks of harassment and even sexual violence. That’s where Bill S-209: Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act comes in. The goal …
Off and Running
As the new year begins, I often find myself reflecting on the year that passed—thinking about the pivotal moments and considering what lies ahead in 2025. As I was cleaning out my office in preparation for a minor renovation, I came across my scribbled notes that I had taken from Simon Sinek’s TedTalk entitled “Why”. In that talk, Simon says, …
What Do You See?
What do you see? Do you see a glass half empty, a cookie half eaten, and half a mess still to clean? Or…do you see a glass half full, half a cookie to enjoy, and half the job done with progress being made! There are two ways of looking at most things in life, aren’t there? Recently I read …
The Ripples We Can’t See
Recently I shared with you a quote from Mother Teresa: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Of course, sometimes when we try to “cast a stone” in life it can be discouraging. Maybe it doesn’t go as far as we’d hoped, or the ripples aren’t as big …
I Met With My MP — Here’s How It Went
You’ve often heard us encourage you to talk with your MP about the issues Defend Dignity is working on. Sound kind of intimidating? It really doesn’t have to be! Summer is often a great time to connect with your MP in a casual setting. You might see them flipping pancakes or frying hamburgers at various community events. They would love …
Casting Stones Across the Waters
Have you ever skipped a stone on a lake? Maybe you’re pretty good at this quintessential summertime activity. How many skips can you get? I learned recently that the world record for competitive stone skipping (yes, it’s a thing) is 88 skips. Now that’s a lot! Of course, we’ve all experienced the flip side of that world record — where …
Prostitution, Demand, and Violence Against Women
This brief was submitted by Defend Dignity to the UN’s Human Rights Council in June 2024. It was submitted in response to an invitation for input on this report by the UN’s Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls; a report that examines violence against women and girls as a form, cause and consequence of prostitution. Input for …
The internet is useful, but how can we make it safer?
February 6th is Safer Internet Day, a day marked annually to raise awareness for a safer and better internet. These days most of us are “plugged in” to the internet each day for various tasks, whether it’s for work, school, productivity, or connection to others. The United Nations has long recognized the usefulness of the internet for education, community, and …