Debra Haak

Oh no! Hoping you get out soon.

More than 600 RCMP officers faced gender-based violence disciplinary charges since 2014, CBC analysis finds | CBC News A CBC investigation of RCMP disciplinary records reveals hundreds of cases of alleged gender-based violence by members. Through a series of access requests, CBC received more than 10 years of discipli...

“More than 600 RCMP officers faced gender-based violence disciplinary charges since 2014.”

Valuable data provided by Julie Ireton and her team at the CBC and featuring insight from my research partner @daniellemcnabb.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/investi...

Yes, the fact the activity is criminalized likely does incentivize those behaviours - alongside general distrust of police generally and stigma.

And while there is some support for the idea that decriminalization supports sex worker health and safety in the voluntary sector, I’m not aware of any research that demonstrates a reduction in violence. The impact of decriminalization on the involuntary (trafficked) sector is notably understudied

Although even after Kloubakov there are inaccuracies about what the new laws capture. For example, it is not correct that “third-party services, such as a bouncer or a receptionist, are illegal.”

And I don’t see a direct line from the criminal laws to withdrawal of funding (by municipalities).

Do you know an individual or an organisation who has excelled in promoting equality in the legal profession, the judiciary, or the legal community in Canada? If so, we want to honour them! Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ou6khx

I’m sorry, but it is disgraceful to be an academic who uses this technology to conduct research. It should be prohibited in all of our scholarly institutions, including universities and journals.

Lecturer in Public Law at University of Sheffield An opportunity for an academic position as a Lecturer in Public Law is available, as advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Apply now and explore other academic job openings.

A public law job at Sheffield: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPW952/l...

LLM use in scholarly writing poses a provenance problem Nature Machine Intelligence - LLM use in scholarly writing poses a provenance problem

Good read on AI mediated scholarship and the provenance problem

share.google/RqTgSFi8M2zA...

For some further thoughts on Kloubakov and what has now been decided relevant to assessing the constitutionality of criminal prostitution laws in Canada, I have an article forthcoming in the Supreme Court Law Review

dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...

The two #c16 amendments relevant to #femicide are:
(1) murder is first degree when death is caused while motivated by hate based on sex
(2) in sentencing manslaughter judge shall consider imprisonment for life if person who committed manslaughter was motivated by hate based on sex

Government Bill (House of Commons) C-16 (45-1) - First Reading - Protecting Victims Act - Parliament of Canada Government Bill (House of Commons) C-16 (45-1) - First Reading - Protecting Victims Act - Parliament of Canada

Full text of C-16 - Protecting Victims Act now available
www.parl.ca/DocumentView...

🏆Recognize Legal Scholarship – Nominate a candidate for the CBA's Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award! Send us your nominations by February 9: https://bit.ly/3QrysUC

Protecting Victims Act/ Loi visant à protéger les victimes YouTube video by Department of Justice Canada

Watch for the Protecting Victims Act today

www.youtube.com/live/7_dAbzr...

Sex-motivated violence should be treated as a hate crime For hate crime legislation to be more than symbolic, crimes motivated by hatred must be reported, recorded, prosecuted and sentenced as hate crimes

Today we remember the best known example of sex-motivated killing in Canada. On Dec. 6, 1989, a lone white male armed with a gun entered École Polytechnique at Université of Montréal and killed 14 women because they were women, towards whom he expressed hatred.

theconversation.com/sex-motivate...

The University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law is inviting applications for an Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor who will also serve as Director of the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC).

› www.uottawa.ca/research-inn...

It’s already the leading cause of death for females in Canada but not males (at 2023)
data.who.int/countries/124

It’s not certain that the invocation of the notwithstanding clause shields the laws from constitutional challenge. It is important for citizens to know IF/HOW/WHY rights have been violated. It is likely that invocation shields rights violation from remedy by courts. The remedy is at the ballot box.

Just arrived. Cannot wait

In the context of engaging in an illegal activity, providers may lawfully: work together and hire non-exploitive third parties to promote safety

But commercial enterprises set up to allow third parties to profit from that illegal activity remain unlawful 2/2

PSA: sex work law in Canada

Kloubakov clarified the law but researchers continue to misstate the law

Sex work (involving sexual touching) is illegal. Purchasing is an offence. Providers are a party to that offence (however they will not be prosecuted) 1/2

To date, the Supreme Court has not interpreted section 7 of the Charter to include a right to engage in the profession or commercial activity of one's choice. Perhaps the Alliance case will make new law in this regard. In the meantime, prostitution is unlawful in Canada. 5/5

The overall goal of the legislative scheme is to reduce the number of people involved in the commercial sex industry in order to reduce the number of people exposed to the structural and situational exploitation and male violence associated with and occurring in that industry. 4/

The finding in Kloubakov was that the offence provisions, properly interpreted, do not prevent sex workers from taking identified safety measures. Sex workers can work together and hire receptionists/body guards/drivers. All while engaging in an illegal activity for which they won't be prosecuted 3/

Section 286.1 makes it an offence to obtain sexual services for consideration. Section 21 makes the provider a party to that offence. Section 286.5 gives the provider immunity from prosecution - but it is still an unlawful act even if you can't be prosecuted. This drafting was intentional. 2/

Sex work on trial: What the recently dismissed Constitutional challenge means Canada’s criminalization framework continues to undermine sex workers’ safety and exclude their voices from shaping laws that govern their lives.

One of the most frustrating things about commentary on Canada's criminal prostitution laws & constitutional challenges is the consistent claim that sex work is legal. It is not legal 1/

Sex work on trial: What the recently dismissed Constitutional challenge means theconversation.com/sex-work-on-...

Call for proposals is live! Join us!!

Women, Disability, and Intersectionality:
Designing for Equality and Leaving No One Behind

Mar 13-14, 2026

#flsq #women #disability #intersectionality #feministlegalstudies #disabilitystudies

femlaw.queensu.ca/sites/flswww...

In case you missed it ➡️ One exceptional post-grad law student will be awarded the $25K CBA Viscount Bennett Fellowship. Don't let this opportunity pass you by! Deadline: November 18. https://bit.ly/46y2RG6

Opportunity! See Gender & Justice website for details-please circulate in your networks @drlandislife.bsky.social @afipcollective.bsky.social @marissaesque.bsky.social @veronicagago.bsky.social @requenaaguilar.bsky.social @oxfordcsae.bsky.social @fosfeminista.bsky.social @thinkcrea.bsky.social

📣General registration for4th joint annual conference 'A feminist Politics of Radical Hope in a Time of Oppression'
is now open.
Details: www.lexnetwork.org/radical-hope...

LEX now reviewing membership applications
Details: lexnetwork.org
@sharronfitz.bsky.social @genderandjustice.bsky.social