LEAF’s Feminist Strategic Litigation (FSL) Project examines the use and impact of feminist strategic litigation to help LEAF, feminists, and gender justice advocates more effectively combat systemic discrimination and oppression.
What’s been done so far?
To help plan LEAF’s future litigation work, we heard from 189 organizations from across Canada who told us about the key areas of need facing the women and girls they serve. We also carried out a year-long research and consultation process, including over 65 consultations with community organizations, feminist academics, and advocates fighting for gender justice. That process led to the release of our report on understanding the impact of FSL: “This Case is About Feminism: Assessing the Effectiveness of Feminist Strategic Litigation.”
In October 2020, we hosted a three-day virtual symposium. Gender Justice Now brought together activists, organizers, academics, lawyers, and front-line service providers from across the country to strategize about law and gender justice. Key topics discussed included:
- Intersectionality and gender justice
- The colonial legal system and justice for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA persons
- Opportunities and challenges for using law in the current moment
What’s next for the project?
LEAF will be taking all that we’ve learned to put together a 5-year plan for our feminist strategic litigation moving forward. We look forward to sharing that plan with you, and test driving it over the next year!
Special thanks to:
- The members of the FSL Project’s Steering Committee (in alphabetical order): Adriel Weaver, Cee Strauss, Elizabeth Shilton, Megan Stephens, and Rosel Kim
- The members of the FSL Project’s Advisory Committee (in alphabetical order): Estella Muyinda (METRAC), Jackie Stevens (Avalon Sexual Assault Centre), Karen Segal (Ontario Nurses Association), Karine-Myrgianie Jean-François (DAWN Canada), Linda Silver Dranoff, Nathalie Léger, Rachelle Venne (Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women), Raji Mangat (West Coast LEAF), Samantha Michaels (Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada), and Tamar Witelson (Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic)
- Women and Gender Equality Canada, for its support and funding of this project
For more information, contact:
Kat Owens
Project Director, Feminist Strategic Litigation Project
T: 416-595-7170, ext. 2007
