Issues and Advocacy

                                                Amnesty International Write for Rights December 2023

ISSUES AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

This is a very busy group. Besides acting on National Advocacy issues, they inform themselves on local issues such as poverty reduction, and child care, often in conjunction with other women’s groups. They review and research annual resolutions which are to be presented at the National AGM.  Contact, Margaret Therrien or Janet Willwerth.

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2024 Resolutions

Archiving Select CFUW Adopted Resolutions I     Proposed by  CFUW Standing Advocacy Committee

Archiving Select CFUW Adopted Resolutions II    Proposed by  CFUW Standing Advocacy Committee

Archiving CFUW Adopted Resolutions Identified for Combining    Proposed by  CFUW Standing Advocacy Committee

Combined CFUW Adopted Resolutions    Proposed by  CFUW Standing Advocacy Committee

Restore and Preserve Canada's Peatlands    Proposed by  CFUW North Delta/Surrey

Preserving Deep Sea Ecosystems    Proposed by CFUW Nanaimo

Aging in Place: Resources for all Canadians to Age at Home and in Community Settings    Proposed by  CFUW Standing Advocacy Committee

Incentives to Adopt Current Standards for Long-Term Care    Proposed by  CFUW Standing Advocacy Committee

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ADVOCACY ACTION 2023-2024

• Followed-up on Advocacy action regarding CFUW Halifax's 2023 Resolution Immigration Detention in Canada - we were delighted  when in March 2024 when Amnesty International announced a landmark victory to their campaign #Welcome to Canada reporting that all 10 Canadian provinces had signed on to end the use of jails in immigration detention.

• Sent letters regarding:

  • Bill C-20 - Public Complaints and Review Commission, 

  • epidemic declaration regarding intimate partner violence, 

  • the "UNITE to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Orange The World Campaign",

  • sustainability and expansion of midwifery services in Nova Scotia.

• Wrote 67 letters in support of human rights and freedoms at a lunch hosted by Janet Adams at the Amnesty International "Write for Rights" event.

• Reviewed and presented to the Club the nine CFUW Resolutions in preparation for the vote at the 2024 Policy Session in July.

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2023 Resolutions

Archiving Select CFUW Policies I     Proposed by  CFUW Advocacy Committee

Archiving Select CFUW Policies II    Proposed by  CFUW Advocacy Committee

Immigration Detention in Canada  Proposed by CFUW Halifax

Towards a Comprehensive Maternal Death Prevention Strategy  Proposed by CFUW Hamilton

Advancing Sustainable Development and Gender Equality With International Agreements  Proposed by CFUW International Relations Committee

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CFUW Halifax 2023 Resolution 

Immigration Detention in Canada

At the September 28 CFUW Halifax General Meeting the membership approved the CFUW Halifax Resolution Intent to be forwarded to the National Resolution Committee as a submission for the 2023 National Resolutions.

The Immigration Detention in Canada Intent Submission reads as follows:

'The following quote from "I Didn't Feel Like a Human in There", a joint publication by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, summarizes the immigration detention problem in Canada.

"Despite its reputation as a refugee-welcoming and multicultural country, Canada incarcerates thousands oh people on immigration- related grounds every year, including people who are fleeing persecution, those seeking employment and a better life, and people who have lived in Canada since childhood.  Immigration detainees are held for non-criminal purposes but endure some of the most restrictive conditions in the country, including maximum security jails and solitary confinement with no set release date."

The above description of what happens to immigration detainees (Women, men and children) should be unacceptable in a country which was built by immigrants.  Increasingly, there is more documented evidence regarding how both foreign nationals and permanent residents are taken into detention and are treated unjustly.  This includes women and children and the risk of family separation.  A CFUW Policy addressing the injustice of the immigration detention program should be a welcome addition to our advocacy portfolio.  Seeking asylum is not an unlawful act.

The intent of this resolution is to advocate for foreign nationals and permanent residents who are detained in an incarcerating institution while proceeding through the status determination process.'

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ADVOCACY ACTION 2021-2022

The following are some of the activities accomplished by the Issues/Advocacy Committee this year:

• Met with Andy Fillmore, Halifax MP in June 2021 to discuss the 2021 Resolution topics of single use plastic, the right to repair and the the opioid crisis

• Finalized a list of questions to be used by members (and others) for candidates in the Fall 2021 Federal Election

• Hosted a national webinar in January on the "#Welcome to Canada Campaign - An Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch campaign to get Canada on the path to abolishing Immigration detention".  

• Reviewed and submitted one amendment to the sic 2022 National Resolutions

• Had a speaker from HRM speak to the Issues Group to improve our knowledge on local waste management

• Made an excellent start on a resolution that CFUW Halifax will put forward as a 2023 National Resolution.

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2022 Policy/Resolutions

Archiving Select CFUW Policies I     Proposed by - CFUW Advocacy Committee

Archiving Select CFUW Policies II    Proposed by - CFUW Advocacy Committee

Tightening Bail Laws to Protect Victims of Intimate Partner Violence     Proposed by - UWC North York

A Clean, Healthy & Sustainable Environment is a Human Right     Proposed by - CFUW  Headlands

Violence Against Women in Politics     Proposed by - CFUW Oakville

Strengthening Employment Equity  Proposed by -   CFUW Nelson & District

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The following are some of the activities accomplished by the Issues/Advocacy Committee this year:

• letters were sent to the provincial Liberal leadership candidates asking about their priorities

• congratulatory letters were sent to all s of the newly-elected female HRM councilors

• wrote letters and signed petitions in support of the Amnesty International Write for Rights Campaign

• reviewed the four national resolutions and reported to the Club membership

• continued research for a suitable resolution topic

• in preparation for a likely election call this fall, we developed a provincial election brochure with questions on Child Poverty, Long Term Care, Violence Against Women and Girls, Housing Strategy and the Environment

• Met with local MP, Andy Fillmore to provide comments on the April Federal Budget and to discuss Pharmacare, Basic Income and Long Term Care

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2021 RESOLUTIONS/POLICY

Right to Repair for Large Household Appliances  Proposed by - CFUW Cape Breton

Single-Use Plastics and Plastic Packaging   Proposed by - CFUW Nepean

Canada's Opioid Crisis  Proposed by - Montreal Lakeshore University Women's Club

Post COVID 19 Socioeconomic Recovery for Women in Canada  Proposed by - International Relations Committee

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ADVOCACY ACTION 2019-2020

September 2019 

• Supported the Better Ballot Campaign that invited Canadians to stand together for civil discussion and respectful debate during the 2019 federal election.

• Met with Andy Fillmore, MP to discuss CFUW National Advocacy Initiatives

• Continued advocacy for Harrietsfield NS community contaminated water problems

December 2019 

• Sent letters to our Halifax and area MPs regarding the suspension of the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement

• Wrote 60 letters in support of the Amnesty International Write for Rights activity

March 2020

• Reviewed and made recommendations to the membership on the six National Resolutions

Ongoing

• Continued work on a Club sponsored National Resolution regarding the Provision of Scent Free Environments in Hotels

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 2020 RESOLUTIONS/POLICY

Canada Health Act and Common Application of Medically Necessary Services  Proposed by - CFUW Markham-Unionville

Payday Loans  Proposed by - CFUW Ottawa

Achieving the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action  Proposed by - CFUW Stratford

Climate Emergency - Declarations and Action Plans   Proposed by - CFUW Stratford

Protecting Children from Exposure and Access to Pornography and Sexual Violence on the Internet  Proposed by - University Women's Club Vancouver

Enforcement of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act  Proposed by - University Women's Club Vancouver

EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS 2020

Long-Term Care under the Canada Health Act  Proposed by - CFUW Stratford and UWC South Shore (Montreal)

Long-Term Care:  Protect the Vulnerable Proposed by - CFUW Oakville