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Gender Equality in the Courts

90.2 Gender Equality in the Courts

Whereas, The report of the National Association of Women and the Law entitled ‘Gender Equality in the Courts’ identifies

gender inequalities within the Canadian legal system; and,

Whereas, The courts often fail to recognize the disadvantaged economic position of women when ruling on Spousal

Maintenance, Child Custody, Access and Support, Marital Property Division and Personal Injury Awards; and,

Whereas, Women in the legal profession face discrimination in their day to day work with regards to job placement, university

tenure, sexual harassment, lower pay scales, and lack of reasonable accommodation in working conditions during

child bearing years; and,

Whereas, The appointment of qualified women to the judiciary, government boards and committees would demonstrate

gender equality in practice; therefore be it,

RESOLVED, That The National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to appoint a national task force to:

  1. Investigate the extent to which gender discrimination exists in the Canadian legal system;
  2. Make recommendations to eliminate any gender discrimination found in that system; and further,
    RESOLVED, That The National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to urge the provinces and
    territories to promote the status of Canadian women in the legal system and the legal profession by providing
    education on gender equality for judges, law students, law professors and lawyers; and further,
    RESOLVED, That The National Council of Women of Canada reiterate its 1980 Resolution to appoint women in proportionate
    numbers to Federal decision-making bodies.