- Professeure titulaire / Full Professor
Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Faculté de droit / Faculty of Law
57, Louis Pasteur
Ottawa (Ontario)
K1N 6N5 - Tel. 613.562.5800 ext/poste 3305 Fax: 613.562.5124
- International Refugee Law, Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, LGBTI refugees, Family Law, International Humanitarian Law, and 13 moreGay, lesbian and transgender rights, History of the Common Law, International Relations, Feminism, Gay And Lesbian Studies, LGBT Issues, Debate over Same-Sex Marriage, UNHCR, Sexual Minorities, LGBTQI Human Rights, Droit De La Famille, Gender-related Refugee Claims, and Human Rightsedit
- Nicole LaViolette Professor, Law Faculty, uOttawa B.A. (Honours)(Carleton), LL.B. (Ottawa), LL.M. (Cantab.), of the... moreNicole LaViolette
Professor, Law Faculty, uOttawa
B.A. (Honours)(Carleton), LL.B. (Ottawa), LL.M. (Cantab.), of the Ontario Bar.
Nicole LaViolette’s research and publications are devoted mainly to refugee law, international human rights, and family law. She has focused a significant part of her scholarly research on sexual minorities and the refugee determination system. She has published extensively on this issue and lectured at national and international conferences on refugee issues. Prof. LaViolette has conducted professional development training related to sexual orientation and gender identity for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and provided expert advice and training on the same issues to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
Prof. LaViolette has taught courses on public international law, international humanitarian law, conflicts of laws, family law, transnational family law, and trusts.edit
More Canadians are riding bicycles than ever before, but did you know that riding your bike in Canada is now almost as heavily regulated as driving your car? Whether you are one of more than 200,000 Canadians who commute by bike, the... more
More Canadians are riding bicycles than ever before, but did you know that riding your bike in Canada is now almost as heavily regulated as driving your car?
Whether you are one of more than 200,000 Canadians who commute by bike, the parent of a child with her first two-wheeler, a veteran racer, or a recreational rider, the chances are you will need this book. In Every Cyclist’s Guide to Canadian Law, Craig Forcese and Nicole LaViolette, both law professors and avid cyclists, provide a comprehensive overview of Canadian law for bicycles — covering rules of the road, purchasing and using bicycles, what to do in the case of an accident or a stolen bike, starting up your own cycling club, racing your bike, and much more.
Accessibly written and often humorous, this book is written for those with little or no legal background. Using straightforward and jargon-free explanations, the authors include anecdotes and examples drawn from their own experiences as seasoned recreational and competitive cyclists. Every Cyclist’s Guide to Canadian Law will also provide an authoritative reference for lawyers, club directors, coaches, and sporting event planners.
Whether you are one of more than 200,000 Canadians who commute by bike, the parent of a child with her first two-wheeler, a veteran racer, or a recreational rider, the chances are you will need this book. In Every Cyclist’s Guide to Canadian Law, Craig Forcese and Nicole LaViolette, both law professors and avid cyclists, provide a comprehensive overview of Canadian law for bicycles — covering rules of the road, purchasing and using bicycles, what to do in the case of an accident or a stolen bike, starting up your own cycling club, racing your bike, and much more.
Accessibly written and often humorous, this book is written for those with little or no legal background. Using straightforward and jargon-free explanations, the authors include anecdotes and examples drawn from their own experiences as seasoned recreational and competitive cyclists. Every Cyclist’s Guide to Canadian Law will also provide an authoritative reference for lawyers, club directors, coaches, and sporting event planners.
Research Interests:
The book presents a comprehensive picture of all of the rights and obligations related to family ties in Canadian common law jurisdictions. The authors explore major themes in family law, including constitutional framework, marriage and... more
The book presents a comprehensive picture of all of the rights and obligations related to family ties in Canadian common law jurisdictions. The authors explore major themes in family law, including constitutional framework, marriage and divorce, division of family property, domestic contracts and child custody. The book also presents specific cases in Ontario, Manitoba and New Brunswick, where Francophones living in the minority have rights to legal services in French.
Research Interests:
Prostitution et traite des êtres humains, enjeux nationaux et internationaux tente d’approfondir les conditions qui rendent la traite des êtres humains possible et offre des pistes de réflexion sur l’état actuel de l’industrie de la... more
Prostitution et traite des êtres humains, enjeux nationaux et internationaux tente d’approfondir les conditions qui rendent la traite des êtres humains possible et offre des pistes de réflexion sur l’état actuel de l’industrie de la prostitution. Cet
ouvrage collectif rassemble des analyses portant sur les conventions internationales et régionales qui encadrent juridiquement le phénomène de la traite des femmes et
des enfants à des fins d’exploitation sexuelle — c’est le premier ouvrage du genre en français. Il regroupe également des études sur la prostitution dans différents pays ainsi que des prises de position d’organisations luttant contre l’exploitation sexuel.
Réunissant des spécialistes tels des juristes, des politologues, des sociologues, des membres d’ONG et des représentants d’organisations internationales, dont Sigma Huda, rapporteuse pour l’ONU, Prostitution et traite des êtres humains, enjeux
nationaux et internationaux permet une avancée des connaissances dans le domaine et met en valeur les luttes de différentes organisations non gouvernementales contre
l’exploitation sexuelle, ce qui en fait un véritable outil pour la société.
ouvrage collectif rassemble des analyses portant sur les conventions internationales et régionales qui encadrent juridiquement le phénomène de la traite des femmes et
des enfants à des fins d’exploitation sexuelle — c’est le premier ouvrage du genre en français. Il regroupe également des études sur la prostitution dans différents pays ainsi que des prises de position d’organisations luttant contre l’exploitation sexuel.
Réunissant des spécialistes tels des juristes, des politologues, des sociologues, des membres d’ONG et des représentants d’organisations internationales, dont Sigma Huda, rapporteuse pour l’ONU, Prostitution et traite des êtres humains, enjeux
nationaux et internationaux permet une avancée des connaissances dans le domaine et met en valeur les luttes de différentes organisations non gouvernementales contre
l’exploitation sexuelle, ce qui en fait un véritable outil pour la société.
Research Interests:
The Human Rights of Anti-terrorism contains timely explorations of some of the most important issues facing the international community today. The book is a collection of papers by internationally- recognized scholars and thinkers from... more
The Human Rights of Anti-terrorism contains timely explorations of some of the most important issues facing the international community today. The book is a collection of papers by internationally- recognized scholars and thinkers from across Canada and around the world to a June 2006 colloquium on Human Rights and Anti-terrorism held in Ottawa. The colloquium grappled with the interrelationship between anti-terrorism, human rights, and international humanitarian law. The Ottawa Principles on Anti-Terrorism and Human Rights, which grew out of deliberations at the colloquium, are included here along with ten chapters which not only supplement and explain the foundations of the Ottawa Principles, but also provide readers with substantive critiques of topics related to human rights and anti-terrorism more generally.
Research Interests:
When problems related to sexual orientation and gender identity are raised in relation to refugee determination proceedings, many advocates, refugee lawyers and refugees consistently call on adjudication authorities to mandate continuing... more
When problems related to sexual orientation and gender identity are raised in relation to refugee determination proceedings, many advocates, refugee lawyers and refugees consistently call on adjudication authorities to mandate continuing professional training for personnel involved in LGBT refugee cases. For instance, the 2011 report Fleeing Homophobia on LGBT asylum claims in Europe contains explicit references to training in its recommendations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has also raised the issue of training in their 2008 Guidance Note on Refugee Claims Relating to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. While calls for training have sometimes outlined specific competencies to be developed by adjudicators, for the most part proponents fail to be specific about what type of professional development will result in better decision-making in LGBT refugee cases. By first considering the objectives and goals of sexual orientation and gender identity training for refugee personnel, this paper will argue that ‘LGBT Cultural Competency Training’, an approach developed in the health and social work fields, is an appropriate model for the refugee context. It would conceptualise more clearly the kinds of professional development interventions that are required to improve the refugee determination process, and it would also help in targeting training modules to be most effective. The author will also highlight the limitations of the tool and caution that LGBT Cultural Competency Training is not a cure-all for the full range of problems facing LGBT refugees.
Research Interests:
Canadian immigration and refugee laws have evolved significantly in the last twenty years; Canada now has some of the most lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) friendly immigration and refugee legislation in the world. Sexual... more
Canadian immigration and refugee laws have evolved significantly in the last twenty years; Canada now has some of the most lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) friendly immigration and refugee legislation in the world. Sexual minorities facing persecution may make applications for refugee status through Canada’s inland refugee determination system or through the resettlement from abroad programs. Furthermore, reform of immigration laws has removed the bar to sponsoring gay and lesbian partners and LGBT immigrants can now obtain permanent resident status through family sponsorship. However, as outlined in this chapter, sexual minorities continue to encounter a specific set of challenges when they migrate and settle in Canada. Several of the most significant issues arise in relation to the application of the refugee and immigration systems. As a result, the extent to which LGBT refugees and same-sex binational couples can successfully migrate to and settle in Canada continues to be of concern.
Research Interests:
Sexual minorities must meet the same evidentiary burden as all other refugee claimants. Independent country information produced by international human rights organisations plays an important role in meeting this burden. However, in the... more
Sexual minorities must meet the same evidentiary burden as all other refugee claimants. Independent country information produced by international human rights organisations plays an important role in meeting this burden. However, in the case of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender claimants, existing country documentation still fails to provide the kind of information refugees need to support their claims. This is due to the continual struggle of human rights organisations to properly document abuses against sexual minorities. Also, the legal questions most relevant to claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity have shifted over the last 15 years. Early cases turned on whether a claimant’s fear of persecution was well-founded or whether the claimants were able to prove their sexual orientation. Recent cases have focused on the distinction between persecution and discrimination, the availability of state protection, and possible regional contrasts in the treatment of sexual minorities within a country. The shift in legal issues requires evidence that is either not available or is not sufficiently focused or detailed to meet the legal requirements of the Canadian refugee determination process.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Egregious human rights violations have compelled some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to seek refuge in countries with better human rights protection. This in turn has led some countries to extend refugee protection to men... more
Egregious human rights violations have compelled some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to seek refuge in countries with better human rights protection. This in turn has led some countries to extend refugee protection to
men and women who feared persecution in their home countries because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This article outlines and analyses how sexual
minority refugee claimants in Canada continue to encounter a specific set of challenges in having the refugee definition applied to their claims. The emphasis is on the Canadian inland refugee determination process and the discussion focuses chiefly on issues and principles pulled from Canadian cases.
men and women who feared persecution in their home countries because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This article outlines and analyses how sexual
minority refugee claimants in Canada continue to encounter a specific set of challenges in having the refugee definition applied to their claims. The emphasis is on the Canadian inland refugee determination process and the discussion focuses chiefly on issues and principles pulled from Canadian cases.
Research Interests:
El presente artículo analiza el desarrollo del Módulo de Derecho de Familia de NACLE y sus implicaciones en la enseñanza del derecho. El Módulo Transfronterizo en Derecho de Familia de NACLE ofrece un modelo para integrar derecho... more
El presente artículo analiza el desarrollo del Módulo de Derecho de Familia de NACLE y sus implicaciones en la enseñanza del derecho. El Módulo Transfronterizo en Derecho de Familia de NACLE ofrece un modelo para integrar derecho internacional y el derecho comparado dentro de los programas curriculares existentes.
Research Interests:
Egregious human rights violations have compelled some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to seek refuge in countries with better human rights protection. Whilst this movement of refugees essentially began in the early 1990s,... more
Egregious human rights violations have compelled some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to seek refuge in countries with better human rights protection. Whilst this movement of refugees essentially began in the early 1990s, it is only in 2008 that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has directly addressed the issue by releasing the UNHCR Guidance Note on Refugee Claims Relating to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. The most significant feature of the Guidance Note is that with its release, the UNHCR has recognized that sexual minorities have encountered a specific set of problems in having the refugee definition applied to their claims. This commentary argues that while the Guidance Note provides a first and necessary interpretive road map for decision-makers responsible for determining such claims, it should not be viewed as a full and complete analysis of refugee claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Research Interests:
Sexual minorities must meet the same evidentiary burden as all other refugee claimants. Independent country information produced by international human rights organisations plays an important role in meeting this burden. However, in the... more
Sexual minorities must meet the same evidentiary burden as all other refugee claimants. Independent country information produced by international human rights organisations plays an important role in meeting this burden. However, in the case of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender claimants, existing country documentation still fails to provide the kind of information refugees need to support their claims. This is due to the continual struggle of human rights organisations to properly document abuses against sexual minorities. Also, the legal questions most relevant to claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity have shifted over the last 15 years. Early cases turned on whether a claimant’s fear of persecution was well-founded or whether the claimants were able to prove their sexual orientation. Recent cases have focused on the distinction between persecution and discrimination, the availability of state protection, and possible regional contrasts in the treatment of sexual minorities within a country. The shift in legal issues requires evidence that is either not available or is not sufficiently focused or detailed to meet the legal requirements of the Canadian refugee determination process.
Research Interests:
Egregious human rights violations have compelled some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to seek refuge in countries with better human rights protection. Whilst this movement of refugees essentially began in the early 1990s,... more
Egregious human rights violations have compelled some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to seek refuge in countries with better human rights protection. Whilst this movement of refugees essentially began in the early 1990s, it is only in 2008 that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has directly addressed the issue by releasing the UNHCR Guidance Note on Refugee Claims Relating to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. The most significant feature of the Guidance Note is that with its release, the UNHCR has recognized that sexual minorities have encountered a specific set of problems in having the refugee definition applied to their claims. This commentary argues that while the Guidance Note provides a first and necessary interpretive road map for decision-makers responsible for determining such claims, it should not be viewed as a full and complete analysis of refugee claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Research Interests:
Les auteurs décrivent la mise sur pied d’un cours expérimental transfrontières offert à des étudiants du Canada, des États-Unis et du Mexique. Cette initiative pédagogique innovatrice est offerte de concert par des collègues de facultés... more
Les auteurs décrivent la mise sur pied d’un cours expérimental transfrontières offert à des étudiants du Canada, des États-Unis et du Mexique. Cette initiative pédagogique innovatrice est offerte de concert par des collègues de facultés de droit des trois pays et ce depuis 2003. Le module d’enseignement développé cherche à enrichir les connaissances des participants et participantes en droit de la famille et en droit international privé. Le module permet aussi aux participants de chacun des territoires d’interagir les uns avec les autres, et d’apprendre avec des étudiants et étudiantes formés à un système juridique différent, tout en restant chez eux. Par ailleurs, le projet vise à offrir un apprentissage pratique dans le domaine du droit de la famille en invitant les étudiants à résoudre des questions juridiques dans un cadre transnational et multilingue. Le module fait usage des nouvelles technologies d’enseignement, notamment la vidéo conférence, les sites Internet et le babillard électronique. Les auteurs examinent les avantages et les obstacles qui découlent de ce type d’enseignement transfrontalier. Les conclusions tirées par les auteurs sont plus positives que négatives, mettant l’accent sur l’amélioration des compétences inter-juridictionnelles des étudiants, l’importance grandissante du droit comparé et du droit international dans le cursus des facultés de droit, l’élaboration d’outils pédagogiques permettant aux étudiants de penser comme des « avocats internationaux » et l’utilisation de l’expertise et les connaissances des étudiants et professeurs à l’étranger.
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On 2 January 2007, the Ontario Court of Appeal released its judgment in A.A. v. B.B. recognising that a five-year-old boy can legally have two mothers and a father. The case was widely presented as another victory in the struggle for... more
On 2 January 2007, the Ontario Court of Appeal released its judgment in A.A. v. B.B. recognising that a five-year-old boy can legally have two mothers and a father. The case was widely presented as another victory in the struggle for lesbian and gay rights and a fundamental reordering of parental rights and responsibilities. The analysis in this comment suggests that the real significance of the case lies elsewhere. The decision is more rightly situated in the developing caselaw on new methods of conception and parenting. At the same time, because the case is grounded in the exercise of a court’s parens patriae discretionary jurisdiction, the case simply cannot be read as allowing all children to have more than two parents. This comment will argue that the Court of Appeal’s decision in A.A. v. B.B., as sound as the reasoning may be, will likely impact on only a small number of families, despite the fact that many issues raised in that case are at the cusp of changing social and scientific conditions affecting an increasing number of families. Rather, it is time for lawmakers to initiate comprehensive law reform in relation to legal parentage.
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In 1993, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada adopted guidelines entitled Women Refugee Claimants Fearing Gender-Related Persecution. The guidelines represent a cutting edge approach and help to guarantee a process of determination... more
In 1993, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada adopted guidelines entitled Women Refugee Claimants Fearing Gender-Related Persecution. The guidelines represent a cutting edge approach and help to guarantee a process of determination of refugee status for women refugees that is more sensitive to gender-specific claims of asylum. However, the author demonstrates that the concept of gender-related persecution, as it is presently defined, makes it very difficult for members of the Board to evaluate, in a systematic manner, all of the grounds and methods of gender-related persecution to which certain women and certain men are subjected. The author examines claims of asylum based on sexual identity or orientation as well as those based on persecution specifically inflicted upon men, in order to evaluate the relevance of the gender-specific analytical framework adopted by the Immigration and Refugee Board, in light of recently published case law. The author concludes that a major change in direction is imperative in order to make more visible the relationship between gender discrimination and other grounds of persecution such as sexual orientation, and to better understand the way the rights of certain men can be violated based on sex-specific factors.
Research Interests:
Although Canada is perceived internationally as an ardent defender of human rights and promoter of democratic values, this article reveals that Canada has yet to ratify 29 treaties relating to human rights. The Author critically examines... more
Although Canada is perceived internationally as an ardent defender of human rights and promoter of democratic values, this article reveals that Canada has yet to ratify 29 treaties relating to human rights. The Author critically examines the motives underlying the Canadian Government’s refusal to ratify each of these international human rights instruments by dividing the treaties into three main categories: instruments for which motives are unknown, instruments for which ratification no longer seems relevant and instruments for which ratification remains under consideration. While the author recognizes that the refusal to ratify certain treaties is appropriate, she nevertheless emphasizes that in many cases, the Canadian government has either not provided a comprehensive justification for refusing to adhere to a convention, or is unable to move beyond unending negotiations with provincial and territorial governments. The article emphasizes that the treaty ratification process, as it applies to human rights instruments, falls short of establishing a meaningful and thorough public policy process. Accordingly, the author suggests that change must be made to ratification policies and processes to allow for a transparent, accountable and effective examination and approval of human rights treaties.
Research Interests:
What if law students in Mexico could talk to law students in Canada about same-sex marriage? What if law students in Texas could talk to law students in Arizona about the enforcement of agreements between cohabitants? What if all of these... more
What if law students in Mexico could talk to law students in Canada about same-sex marriage? What if law students in Texas could talk to law students in Arizona about the enforcement of agreements between cohabitants? What if all of these students could converse about the law’s response to domestic violence? These were some of the questions that family law professors tossed around at a curriculum development workshop sponsored by the North American Consortium of Legal Education (NACLE) in 2001. That first discussion led to the development of an experimental cross-border course which has been offered to American, Canadian, and Mexican law students since 2003. This article describes the development of the NACLE Family Law Module. By focusing on the experience of students and teachers during the three semesters in which the NACLE cross-border course has been offered, we will bring out the pedagogical value of cross-border teaching for law students and faculty, and examine the benefits and challenges of teaching across national boundaries. Finally, the review of our experience helps identify some implications for future iterations of the course.
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Édictée le 28 juin 2002, la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés, qui renvoie expressément à l’article premier de la Convention contre la torture, a créé une nouvelle catégorie de personne bénéficiant du régime de... more
Édictée le 28 juin 2002, la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés, qui renvoie expressément à l’article premier de la
Convention contre la torture, a créé une nouvelle catégorie de personne bénéficiant du régime de protection des réfugiés, soit celle des « personnes à protéger ». Le présent texte porte sur la
façon dont les tribunaux canadiens vont interpréter l’alinéa 7(1)a) de la Loi lorsqu’ils devront déterminer si un demandeur répond à la définition de « personne à protéger » au sens de la Loi.
Convention contre la torture, a créé une nouvelle catégorie de personne bénéficiant du régime de protection des réfugiés, soit celle des « personnes à protéger ». Le présent texte porte sur la
façon dont les tribunaux canadiens vont interpréter l’alinéa 7(1)a) de la Loi lorsqu’ils devront déterminer si un demandeur répond à la définition de « personne à protéger » au sens de la Loi.
Research Interests:
While Canadian immigration policy has long favoured family reunification, until recently Canadian immigration laws allowed only married heterosexual Canadians to sponsor their spouses as family class immigrants. But the recently enacted... more
While Canadian immigration policy has long favoured family reunification, until recently Canadian immigration laws allowed only married heterosexual Canadians to sponsor their spouses as family class immigrants. But the recently enacted Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and the accompanying Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, have expanded the family class to allow gay men and lesbians to formally sponsor their partners. In this article, the author argues that despite the important progress made in recognizing gay and lesbian conjugal relationships under the new legislation, the issue of same-sex immigration remains problematic. The author examines the legislative scheme to reveal that the new family class categories still contain policy and drafting weaknesses that could hinder same-sex immigration. In addition, while the new legislation offers a better regime than existed previously, gay men and lesbians remain vulnerable to discriminatory applications of the law if visa officers, appeal and court judges do not recognize the political, social and cultural specificity of gay and lesbian couples who apply for permanent residency in Canada.
Research Interests:
L'image que projette le Canada sur la scène internationale est celle d'un ardent défenseur de la protection des droits de la personne et de l'avancement des valeurs démocratiques. Or, il demeure que le Canada n'a toujours pas ratifié 31... more
L'image que projette le Canada sur la scène internationale est celle d'un ardent défenseur de la protection des droits de la personne et de l'avancement des valeurs démocratiques. Or, il demeure que le Canada n'a toujours pas ratifié 31 conventions internationales en matière de droits de la personne. Le présent article répartit ces conventions en trois groupes (les instruments pour lesquels les motifs de non-ratification sont inconnus ou équivoques; les instruments pour lesquels une ratification est moins pertinente; et les instruments pour lesquels une ratification est toujours pertinente) afin de faire l'évaluation critique des motifs canadiens de non-ratification. Même si l'auteure reconnaît le bien-fondé du refus d'adhérer à certaines conventions, elle
insiste sur le fait que, pour la majorité des traités non-ratifiés, le gouvernement canadien est soit incapable d'étayer clairement, tant au public canadien qu'à la communauté internationale, les motifs justifiant la non-ratification, soit paralysé par des négociations sans fin avec les gouvernements provinciaux et territoriaux. Ainsi, l'auteure affirme qu'il est impératif de parer a
ux lacunes existantes qui entravent la mise en place d'un
processus de ratification transparent, responsable et efficace. Par exemple, l'auteure remarque que la réticence du gouvernement canadien face à l'utilisation de réserves ou de déclarations interprétatives lors de la ratification garantit que certaines conventions importantes ne seront jamais ratifiées.
insiste sur le fait que, pour la majorité des traités non-ratifiés, le gouvernement canadien est soit incapable d'étayer clairement, tant au public canadien qu'à la communauté internationale, les motifs justifiant la non-ratification, soit paralysé par des négociations sans fin avec les gouvernements provinciaux et territoriaux. Ainsi, l'auteure affirme qu'il est impératif de parer a
ux lacunes existantes qui entravent la mise en place d'un
processus de ratification transparent, responsable et efficace. Par exemple, l'auteure remarque que la réticence du gouvernement canadien face à l'utilisation de réserves ou de déclarations interprétatives lors de la ratification garantit que certaines conventions importantes ne seront jamais ratifiées.
Research Interests:
Dans le domaine du droit, les marqueurs d'identité tels la race, la religion, le sexe ou l'orientation sexuelle sont fréquemment utilisés pour créer des catégories juridiques et législatives. Cependant, il faut s'assurer d'utiliser les... more
Dans le domaine du droit, les marqueurs d'identité tels la race, la religion, le sexe ou l'orientation sexuelle sont fréquemment utilisés pour créer des catégories juridiques et législatives. Cependant, il faut s'assurer d'utiliser les marqueurs d'identité convenablement pour bien comprendre les expériences de personnes appartenant aux groupes cibles. L'auteure examine le processus de revendication du statut de réfugié de la Loi sur l'immigration et la protection des réfugiés pour évaluer si les catégories d'identité, telles que définies à l'heure actuelle, permettent à la Commission d'immigration et du statut de réfugié d'évaluer de manière systématique tous les motifs et moyens de persécution dont sont victimes les revendicateurs et revendicatrices. L'auteure se penche particulièrement sur les revendications d'asile soulevant le sexe et l'orientation sexuelle, pour évaluer, à la lumière de la jurisprudence recensée, si les demandes d'asiles reconnaissent le recoupement entre ces deux différents marqueurs d'identité. Sur le plan de l'application de toute loi, l'auteure fait valoir qu'il est essentiel d'identifier les points de recoupement entre les différents marqueurs d'identité pour permettre aux personnes de présenter fidèlement leur vécu et leur identité intersectionnelle. Il est donc suggéré de rendre plus visible les liens entre le sexe et l'orientation sexuelle dans le contexte du droit des réfugiés.
Research Interests:
Récemment, dans l'affaire Fretté c. France, l'État français a échappé d'extrême justesse à une condamnation de la Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme pour discrimination fondée sur l'orientation sexuelle. Dans l'affaire Fretté, la Cour... more
Récemment, dans l'affaire Fretté c. France, l'État français a échappé d'extrême justesse à une condamnation de la Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme pour discrimination fondée sur l'orientation sexuelle. Dans l'affaire Fretté, la Cour européenne confirme que l’interdiction d'adoption opposée par l'administration française aux personnes homosexuelles ne porte pas atteinte aux droits de la personne. Selon l'auteure, la Cour a négligé le fait qu’un grand nombre d'hommes gais et de lesbiennes présentent
les qualités humaines et éducatives requises d'n candidat d l'adoption, et elle a préféré avaliser une différence de traitement discriminatoire et absolue envers les personnes homosexuelles. La Cour ne fonde aucunement ses motifs sur une preuve explicite et concluante quant au préjudice que peut présenter l'homosexualité d'un parent pour l'enfant adopté. Elle invoque plutôt la controverse publique pour motiver sa décision en faveur de l’interdiction d'adoption par les gais et lesbiennes.
les qualités humaines et éducatives requises d'n candidat d l'adoption, et elle a préféré avaliser une différence de traitement discriminatoire et absolue envers les personnes homosexuelles. La Cour ne fonde aucunement ses motifs sur une preuve explicite et concluante quant au préjudice que peut présenter l'homosexualité d'un parent pour l'enfant adopté. Elle invoque plutôt la controverse publique pour motiver sa décision en faveur de l’interdiction d'adoption par les gais et lesbiennes.
Research Interests:
With the establishment in Nova Scotia and Québec of the very first Canadian partnership registration schemes, debates about the value of this alternative recognition model are likely to multiply and gain in relevance in Canada. In this... more
With the establishment in Nova Scotia and Québec of the very first Canadian partnership registration schemes, debates about the value of this alternative recognition model are likely to multiply and gain in relevance in Canada. In this article the author examines whether registered partnership models should be established in Canada to permit adults in close personal relationships to formally undertake mutual obligations. The author argues that the most divisive political and social debates arise when registered partnership schemes are pitted against the issue of same-sex marriage. Policy discussions on registered partnerships will continue to be contentious and unproductive if the ban on same-sex marriage remains in place. If this obstacle is removed, one specific type of registered partnerships scheme, classified by the author as the "Blank State Plus" model, becomes an interesting alternative form of state relationship recognition, particularly for individuals who reject marriage or who are not in a conjugal relationship but who nevertheless wish to undertake mutual obligations.
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En 1993, la Commission de l’immigration et du statut de refugié adopte les directives intitulées Les revendicatrices du statut de réfugié craignant d’être persécutées en raison de leur sexe. Les Directives représentent une approche... more
En 1993, la Commission de l’immigration et du statut de refugié adopte les directives intitulées Les revendicatrices du statut de réfugié craignant d’être persécutées en raison de leur sexe. Les Directives représentent une approche avant-gardiste et contribuent à garantir aux femmes réfugiées un processus de détermination du statut de réfugié plus sensible aux dimensions sexospécifiques de leurs revendications d’asile. Cependant, l’auteure fait valoir que la notion de persécution fondée sur le sexe, telle qu’elle est définie à l’heure actuelle, permet très difficilement aux membres de la Commission d’évaluer de manière systématique tous les motifs et moyens de persécution sexospécifiques dont sont victimes certaines femmes et certains hommes. L’auteure se penche tout particulièrement sur les revendications d’asile soulevant l’orientation ou l’identité sexuelle ainsi que celles soulevant une persécution spécifiquement exercée contre les hommes, dans le but d’évaluer, à la lumière de la jurisprudence recensée, la pertinence de l’application du cadre d’analyse sexospécifique de la Commission de l’immigration et du statut de réfugié. L’auteure suggère des orientations nouvelles par rapport au changement de cap qui s’impose, soulignant notamment qu’il est nécessaire de rendre plus visible les liens entre le sexe et d’autres motifs de persécution comme l’orientation sexuelle, et de mieux discerner les relations sexospécifiques qui briment les droits de certains hommes.
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Evidence indicates that individuals responsible for mass rapes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda were acting on orders from their superiors. The international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda have indicated... more
Evidence indicates that individuals responsible for mass rapes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda were acting on orders from their superiors. The international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda have indicated their intention to prosecute individuals responsible for sexual violence and their superiors. The prosecutions of superiors rest on the doctrine of command responsibility, a doctrine well-established in international criminal law. This article presents the difficulties that arise in applying the doctrine of command responsibility to cases of wartime sexual assaults. Relying on a feminist analysis of international humanitarian law, the author identifies the imbalance which exists between the principle of military necessity and the principle of humanitarianism, an imbalance which makes rape the least condemned and punished of war crimes. In the absence of traditional military command structures, as was the case in Bosnia and Rwanda, a superior is well-placed to deny his authority over those who committed wartime rapes. Despite this challenge, the author asserts that the Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, in the Celebici case, developed a realistic approach to the doctrine of command responsibility and reasonably concluded that a camp commander was criminally responsible for rapes committed by his subordinate.
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International refugee law has been structured so that claimants must fit themselves into narrowly defined categories: the Canadian Immigration Act requires that refugee claimants establish a well-founded fear of persecution based on one... more
International refugee law has been structured so that claimants must fit themselves into narrowly defined categories: the Canadian Immigration Act requires that refugee claimants establish a well-founded fear of persecution based on one of the enumerated grounds, namely race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. As sexual orientation is not enumerated, many lesbian and gay asylum seekers have attempted to establish their claim on the basis of "membership in a particular social group." The 1993 Supreme Court decision in Canada (A.G.) v. Ward has clarified that sexual orientation is a ground upon which a refugee claimant may claim membership in a particular social group because it is an innate or unchangeable characteristic. The decision in Ward, while a positive development, inappropriately classifies sexual orientation as an immutable personal characteristic. It suggests that lesbians and gay men are deserving of international protection only because they cannot change the personal attribute for which they are persecuted. Instead, refugee status should be granted because lesbians and gay men have a common social identity which is ascribed an inferior social and political status by their persecutors.
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This compilation of Canadian appellate level decisions covers the period from 1993 to 2015 and contains two appeals from the RAD of the IRB; a significant number of judicial reviews from the Federal Court; and finally, one case from the... more
This compilation of Canadian appellate level decisions covers the period from 1993 to 2015 and contains two appeals from the RAD of the IRB; a significant number of judicial reviews from the Federal Court; and finally, one case from the Supreme Court of Canada. Decisions were selected if they identified principles of law which are settled and illustrated how those principles were applied to particular situations. Indeed, cases were selected if they set out a legal principle rather than decisions that were simply decided on the particular facts of the refugee claim.
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This annotated bibliography gives an account of legal and social sciences research sources related to refugee claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The bibliography, which focuses primarily on English language... more
This annotated bibliography gives an account of legal and social sciences research sources related to refugee claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The bibliography, which focuses primarily on English language publications, includes close to 200 items that fall into the following two categories of research sources:
(1) scholarly publications on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) refugees and asylum-seekers and the refugee determination process;
(2) reports from international, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations on the same topic.
Research sources are first organized topically according to the definition of a Convention refugee under the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. As a second listing, a geographical classification is provided of the sources that focus on specific countries or regions. Finally, included is an alphabetical listing by author of all of the research sources we were able to locate for this project.
(1) scholarly publications on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) refugees and asylum-seekers and the refugee determination process;
(2) reports from international, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations on the same topic.
Research sources are first organized topically according to the definition of a Convention refugee under the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. As a second listing, a geographical classification is provided of the sources that focus on specific countries or regions. Finally, included is an alphabetical listing by author of all of the research sources we were able to locate for this project.
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Paper prepared for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in support of a presentation made to the Board members on sexual orientation, gender identity and the refugee determination process. The paper reviews developments and issues... more
Paper prepared for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in support of a presentation made to the Board members on sexual orientation, gender identity and the refugee determination process. The paper reviews developments and issues specific to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered refugees and the Canadian inland refugee determination process.
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Document préparé pour la Section de la protection des réfugiés de la Commission de l’immigration et du statut de réfugié du Canada dans le cadre d’une séance de perfectionnement professionnel sur l’orientation sexuelle, l’identité... more
Document préparé pour la Section de la protection des réfugiés de la Commission de l’immigration et du statut de réfugié du Canada dans le cadre d’une séance de perfectionnement professionnel sur l’orientation sexuelle, l’identité sexuelle et le processus d’octroi de l’asile. Le document passe en revue les faits nouveaux et les questions concernant particulièrement les lesbiennes, les gais, les bisexuels, les transgenres et les intersexués, ainsi que le processus de détermination du statut de réfugié au Canada.
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The United Nations Economic and Social Council revoked the consultative status the International Lesbian and Gay Association on grounds that some of its members were affiliated with pedophile groups.
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Enacted on June 28, 2002, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which refers explicitly to section one of the Convention against Torture, extended protection to a new category of persons, namely, « person in need of protection».... more
Enacted on June 28, 2002, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which refers explicitly to section one of the Convention against Torture, extended protection to a new category of persons, namely, « person in need of protection». This article discusses how the courts will interpret subparagraph 97(1)a) of the Act when determining whether a person is a « person in need of protection » as defined by the Act.
The author suggests that the inclusion of the subparagraph in question constitutes a direct implementation of the principle precluding the turning back of a person who faces the risk of being tortured to his or her country of origin. Through a brief overview of the principles governing the integration of international law into Canadian domestic law, the author purports that the Courts have an obligation to interpret the word « torture » in accordance with the Convention, as well as the international definition of the word.
The author then proceeds to circumscribe the breadth of the international definition of torture by examining each of the constituents of the term: the conduct, the intention and object of the conduct, the identity of the author of torture and the exclusions. In doing so, she assesses the interpretation which different international instruments, jurisprudence and external documents have attributed to these four components, including the work of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture, as well as the jurisprudence of both the European and Inter-American Courts of Human Rights.
While the author concedes that to date, no Canadian decision rests on the conformity of the definition of torture with Section one of the Convention, she nevertheless concludes by highlighting the case of Bouaouni c. Canada to convey the manner by which international legal documents can and should continue to shape the courts’ interpretation of subparagraph 97(1)a).
The author suggests that the inclusion of the subparagraph in question constitutes a direct implementation of the principle precluding the turning back of a person who faces the risk of being tortured to his or her country of origin. Through a brief overview of the principles governing the integration of international law into Canadian domestic law, the author purports that the Courts have an obligation to interpret the word « torture » in accordance with the Convention, as well as the international definition of the word.
The author then proceeds to circumscribe the breadth of the international definition of torture by examining each of the constituents of the term: the conduct, the intention and object of the conduct, the identity of the author of torture and the exclusions. In doing so, she assesses the interpretation which different international instruments, jurisprudence and external documents have attributed to these four components, including the work of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture, as well as the jurisprudence of both the European and Inter-American Courts of Human Rights.
While the author concedes that to date, no Canadian decision rests on the conformity of the definition of torture with Section one of the Convention, she nevertheless concludes by highlighting the case of Bouaouni c. Canada to convey the manner by which international legal documents can and should continue to shape the courts’ interpretation of subparagraph 97(1)a).
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For many years now, gay men and lesbians have been granted asylum in Canada on the ground that they face persecution as sexual minorities. In 1993, the Supreme Court of Canada, in Canada (Attorney-General) v. Ward, concluded, in obiter,... more
For many years now, gay men and lesbians have been granted asylum in Canada on the ground that they face persecution as sexual minorities. In 1993, the Supreme Court of Canada, in Canada (Attorney-General) v. Ward, concluded, in obiter, that sexual orientation can constitute the basis of a particular social group. Ever since, a majority of gay and lesbian refugees have claimed that their fear of persecution is grounded on their membership in a particular social group, one constituted by individuals with the same sexual orientation as their own.
Given that gay men and lesbians claim to be members of a particular social group, one of the elements to be satisfied in a refugee claim based on sexual orientation will be the claimant's membership in that particular social group. Assessing the veracity of the claimant's homosexuality is a very difficult, sensitive and complex task in the context of an administrative or quasi-judicial hearing. In particular, the very private and intimate nature of an individual’s sexual orientation poses real challenges for decision-makers who are nonetheless required to engage with claimants about their personal lives and relationships.
Outlined in this document is a suggested approach to questioning a claimant about their sexual orientation. The purpose of this model is to provided decision-makers with a range of issues that they may explore with a claimant when it is determined that membership in a particular social group is an issue to be determined in the refugee claim.
Only the questioning model is included in this version. The legal issues are more fully canvassed in later papers, also posted on Academia.edu.
Given that gay men and lesbians claim to be members of a particular social group, one of the elements to be satisfied in a refugee claim based on sexual orientation will be the claimant's membership in that particular social group. Assessing the veracity of the claimant's homosexuality is a very difficult, sensitive and complex task in the context of an administrative or quasi-judicial hearing. In particular, the very private and intimate nature of an individual’s sexual orientation poses real challenges for decision-makers who are nonetheless required to engage with claimants about their personal lives and relationships.
Outlined in this document is a suggested approach to questioning a claimant about their sexual orientation. The purpose of this model is to provided decision-makers with a range of issues that they may explore with a claimant when it is determined that membership in a particular social group is an issue to be determined in the refugee claim.
Only the questioning model is included in this version. The legal issues are more fully canvassed in later papers, also posted on Academia.edu.
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The principal objective of this paper is to provide a factual and an analytical examination of registered partnerships. It is submitted to the Law Commission of Canada as part of an exploration of close, personal relationships formed by... more
The principal objective of this paper is to provide a factual and an analytical examination of registered partnerships. It is submitted to the Law Commission of Canada as part of an exploration of close, personal relationships formed by adults. As such, this research could provide a better understanding of the actual and potential uses of registered partnerships, as a means for creating better conditions for adults in close personal relationships to declare their commitments, obligations and responsibilities to each other.
The paper is divided in three main sections. Following the introduction, Part II categorizes and describes the various types of registered partnership models that have been established in different jurisdictions around the world. The Annex, which provides factual information about existing registered partnership models in a table format, provides additional and complementary information and should be consulted in conjunction with Part II. Part III reviews current uses of registered partnerships to assess the value of opting for such a model. Academic and activist debates are examined to outline the benefits and pitfalls with registered partnerships as a model of legal recognition for either conjugal or non-conjugal relationships. Part VI looks to situate the issue in the Canadian context by contrasting the debates surrounding registered partnerships in other jurisdictions. This last section will assess whether registered partnerships add any value if same-sex couples are no longer barred from marriage."
The paper is divided in three main sections. Following the introduction, Part II categorizes and describes the various types of registered partnership models that have been established in different jurisdictions around the world. The Annex, which provides factual information about existing registered partnership models in a table format, provides additional and complementary information and should be consulted in conjunction with Part II. Part III reviews current uses of registered partnerships to assess the value of opting for such a model. Academic and activist debates are examined to outline the benefits and pitfalls with registered partnerships as a model of legal recognition for either conjugal or non-conjugal relationships. Part VI looks to situate the issue in the Canadian context by contrasting the debates surrounding registered partnerships in other jurisdictions. This last section will assess whether registered partnerships add any value if same-sex couples are no longer barred from marriage."
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Nous avons essentiellement voulu, dans le présent document, présenter une étude factuelle et analytique des unions libres enregistrées. Ce document a été préparé pour le compte de la Commission du droit du Canada, dans le cadre de... more
Nous avons essentiellement voulu, dans le présent document, présenter une étude factuelle et analytique des unions libres enregistrées. Ce document a été préparé pour le compte de la Commission du droit du Canada, dans le cadre de l’examen des
rapports de nature personnelle formés par les adultes. À ce titre, la présente étude vise à faciliter la compréhension des possibilités offertes par les régimes d’enregistrement des unions libres existants ou éventuels pour ce qui est de créer des conditions plus favorables pour les adultes qui entretiennent des relations personnelles étroites et qui souhaitent donner un caractère officiel à leurs engagements, obligations et responsabilités mutuels.
Cette étude est divisée en trois parties principales. À la suite de la présente introduction, la partie II catégorise et décrit les divers types de régimes d’enregistrement des partenariats qui ont été établis par différents gouvernements autour du monde. L’annexe, qui renferme à l’égard des régimes d’enregistrement existants des données de fait présentées sous forme de tableaux, devrait être lue conjointement avec la partie II puisqu’elle fournit des renseignements supplémentaires et complémentaires.
Nous examinerons ensuite dans la partie III l’usage qui est actuellement fait des régimes d’enregistrement, en vue d’évaluer l’utilité d’un tel modèle de reconnaissance des partenariats. Les arguments présentés par les théoriciens et les activistes seront
ensuite examinés en vue de dégager les avantages et les inconvénients des partenariats enregistrés en tant que modèle de reconnaissance juridique des unions conjugales aussi bien que des unions de type non conjugal. Dans la partie VI, nous
envisagerons la question dans le contexte canadien en comparant les débats auxquels ont donné lieu les régimes d’enregistrement mis en application dans d’autres pays.
Nous traiterons également dans cette partie la question de savoir si les unions libres enregistrées pourraient ou non offrir quelque avantage additionnel si l’interdiction du mariage des couples homosexuels devait être levée."
rapports de nature personnelle formés par les adultes. À ce titre, la présente étude vise à faciliter la compréhension des possibilités offertes par les régimes d’enregistrement des unions libres existants ou éventuels pour ce qui est de créer des conditions plus favorables pour les adultes qui entretiennent des relations personnelles étroites et qui souhaitent donner un caractère officiel à leurs engagements, obligations et responsabilités mutuels.
Cette étude est divisée en trois parties principales. À la suite de la présente introduction, la partie II catégorise et décrit les divers types de régimes d’enregistrement des partenariats qui ont été établis par différents gouvernements autour du monde. L’annexe, qui renferme à l’égard des régimes d’enregistrement existants des données de fait présentées sous forme de tableaux, devrait être lue conjointement avec la partie II puisqu’elle fournit des renseignements supplémentaires et complémentaires.
Nous examinerons ensuite dans la partie III l’usage qui est actuellement fait des régimes d’enregistrement, en vue d’évaluer l’utilité d’un tel modèle de reconnaissance des partenariats. Les arguments présentés par les théoriciens et les activistes seront
ensuite examinés en vue de dégager les avantages et les inconvénients des partenariats enregistrés en tant que modèle de reconnaissance juridique des unions conjugales aussi bien que des unions de type non conjugal. Dans la partie VI, nous
envisagerons la question dans le contexte canadien en comparant les débats auxquels ont donné lieu les régimes d’enregistrement mis en application dans d’autres pays.
Nous traiterons également dans cette partie la question de savoir si les unions libres enregistrées pourraient ou non offrir quelque avantage additionnel si l’interdiction du mariage des couples homosexuels devait être levée."
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This paper proposes a questioning model for refugee adjudicators of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board to assist in determining whether a refugee claimant is a member of a particular social group based on sexual orientation. This... more
This paper proposes a questioning model for refugee adjudicators of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board to assist in determining whether a refugee claimant is a member of a particular social group based on sexual orientation. This model was revised and updated in a 2004 paper "Sexual Orientation and the Refugee Determination Process: Questioning a Claimant About Their Membership in the Particular Social Group" also posted to Academia.edu.
The paper examines the nature and consequences of the evidentiary problems facing women and men who make refugee claims based on sexual orientation persecution. It begins by briefly surveying the nature of a refugee hearing and the role... more
The paper examines the nature and consequences of the evidentiary problems facing women and men who make refugee claims based on sexual orientation persecution. It begins by briefly surveying the nature of a refugee hearing and the role of documentary evidence in the refugee determination process. It then proceeds to illustrate some of the problems encountered by lesbians and gay men by focusing on one aspect of the legal rest which must be met by a claimant, and that is the requirement that a person have a 'well-founded fear of persecution'. It will be seen that documentation on human rights violations against sexual minorities is often very difficult to find. If information exists, refugee panels of the Convention Refugee Determination Board (CRDD) of the IRB have sometimes questioned the bias of the sources.
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In this second installment of the Family Law Institute’s “Academic Year in Review,” we are spotlighting a number of articles, reports, and books generally published in the preceding two years and which focus on family and children’s... more
In this second installment of the Family Law Institute’s “Academic Year in Review,” we are spotlighting a number of articles, reports, and books generally published in the preceding two years and which focus on family and children’s issues. Unlike many reviews, where the authors mention articles and books they have liked (or disliked!), we selected these titles with the family law practitioner in mind to help you make sense of recent developments in the field of family law and policy. We hope to introduce you to academic publications that may assist you in developing arguments on behalf of your clients, or to provide you with insightful and scholarly critiques of legislation and case law. We also provide a bibliography of additional publications released in 2010-2011 which are not summarized but may nevertheless be of interest to members of the family bar. While we are featuring publications from academic and professional journals that specialize in family law and policy issues in Canada, we have also selected pieces from journals that focus specifically on foreign and international family law.
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In this first installment of the Family Law Institute’s “Academic Year in Review,” we decided to spotlight twelve articles, reports and books published in the preceding year (and a couple in 2008) which focus on family and children’s... more
In this first installment of the Family Law Institute’s “Academic Year in Review,” we decided to spotlight twelve articles, reports and books published in the preceding year (and a couple in 2008) which focus on family and children’s issues. Unlike many reviews, where the authors mention articles and books they’ve liked (or not liked!) over the year, we selected the titles with the family law practitioner in mind to help you make sense of recent developments in the field of family law and policy. We hope to introduce you to academic publications that could assist you in developing arguments in support of your clients, or provide you with insightful critiques of legislation and case law. We are featuring publications from academic and professional journals that specialize in family law and policy issues in Canada. We have also selected a few pieces from journals that focus specifically on foreign and international family law. Finally, we also provide a biography of additional publications released in 2008-2009 which are not summarized but may nevertheless be of interest to members of the family bar.
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This is a brief commentary on the Supreme Court of Canada's 2002 decision in Nova Scotia (Attorney-General) v. Walsh, a case challenging the constitutionality of Nova Scotia's. The Court held that the exclusion of unmarried heterosexual... more
This is a brief commentary on the Supreme Court of Canada's 2002 decision in Nova Scotia (Attorney-General) v. Walsh, a case challenging the constitutionality of Nova Scotia's. The Court held that the exclusion of unmarried heterosexual from provincial matrimonial property laws is not discriminatory within the meaning of s.15(1) the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
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The federal government says its same-sex marriage proposal is a balance: on the one hand it upholds the human rights of homosexuals. On the other hand it preserves the religious rights of churches not to perform marriages that violate... more
The federal government says its same-sex marriage proposal is a balance: on the one hand it upholds the human rights of homosexuals. On the other hand it preserves the religious rights of churches not to perform marriages that violate their faiths. Nicole LaViolette believes there's a key flaw in that solution.
In 1999, Pierre Trudeau was name Canada's news maker of the century according to the newspapers and broadcasters of the country. Professor LaViolette comments on Trudeau's vision of a bi-cultural and bilingual country.
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In June 2006, experts on human rights and terrorism met in their individual capacities at the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada to develop the following Principles on Anti-terrorism and Human Rights. They shared a... more
In June 2006, experts on human rights and terrorism met in their individual capacities at the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada to develop the following Principles on Anti-terrorism and Human Rights. They shared a common view that the preservation of human rights – not least the right to life – is the central motivator of anti-terrorism. They also believed that human rights constitute an elemental and immutable constraint on how anti-terrorism is conducted. The struggle for collective security must not be an assault on the individual’s life, liberty and security of the person. This document is the product of their deliberations.
En juin 2006, des spécialistes des droits de l’homme et de la lutte au terrorisme se sont réunis, à titre individuel, à la faculté de droit de l’Université d’Ottawa, à Ottawa, Canada pour élaborer les
Principes suivants relatifs à la lutte au terrorisme et aux droits de l’homme. Ils ont tous partagé le point de vue voulant que la protection des droits de l’homme et, au premier chef, le droit à la vie, constitue l’élément moteur de la lutte au terrorisme. Ils ont également estimé que les droits de l’homme restreignent de façon essentielle et immuable la manière dont la lutte au terrorisme est menée. La lutte pour la sécurité collective ne doit pas constituer une atteinte à la vie, à la liberté et à la sécurité des personnes. Ce document est le fruit de leurs délibérations.
En juin 2006, des spécialistes des droits de l’homme et de la lutte au terrorisme se sont réunis, à titre individuel, à la faculté de droit de l’Université d’Ottawa, à Ottawa, Canada pour élaborer les
Principes suivants relatifs à la lutte au terrorisme et aux droits de l’homme. Ils ont tous partagé le point de vue voulant que la protection des droits de l’homme et, au premier chef, le droit à la vie, constitue l’élément moteur de la lutte au terrorisme. Ils ont également estimé que les droits de l’homme restreignent de façon essentielle et immuable la manière dont la lutte au terrorisme est menée. La lutte pour la sécurité collective ne doit pas constituer une atteinte à la vie, à la liberté et à la sécurité des personnes. Ce document est le fruit de leurs délibérations.