Cases
Sexual violence
R. v. Rhodes
This case has been referred to by many as the “sex is in the air” case. On October 12, 2010 the appellant Rhodes was convicted of sexually assaulting the complainant, a young Aboriginal woman half his size, on the side of a deserted highway north of Thompson Manitoba. During the assault the complainant cried that [...]
N.S. v. R. (SCC)
LEAF is intervening at the appeal of this case before the Supreme Court of Canada. The hearing is scheduled for December 8, 2011. Further detail can be found under Recent Cases and under the R. v. N.S. 2010 entry dealing with the Ontario Court of Appeal intervention and decision.
R. v. D.A.I.
On February 10, 2012 the SCC released its decision in R. v. D.A.I. confirming the importance of access to justice for sexual assault complainants with intellectual and other disabilities. In the past, these women were excluded from testifying if they couldn’t explain the meaning of concepts like promise, truth and falsehood. No other category of [...]
N.S. v. R. (Ontario C.A.)(Appeal scheduled for June 8 & 9, 2010)
N.S involves a sexual assault complainant who wears a niqab – a veil which covers the face, with the exception of the eyes. N.S. alleges that she was sexually abused as a child from the ages of 6 – 12. She is now in her early 30s. The accused are the complainant’s uncle and cousin. [...]
Barney v. Canada (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) and United Church of Canada
In 2005, LEAF, the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), and the DisAbled Women’s Network (DAWN) Canada intervened in coalition in this landmark case that sought compensation for Aboriginal residential school survivors subjected to multiple forms of abuse. This case addressed some of the most appalling human rights violations ever to occur in Canada. The [...]
