DOCSLIB.ORG

Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse: Final Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse: Final Report TASK FORCE on the Health Effects of WOMAN ABUSE The Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse London, Ontario 519-663-5317 ext. 2444 www.healthunit.com MIDDLESEX-LONDON HEALTH UNIT – Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse - Final Report Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse Final Report September, 2000 For information please contact: Office of the Medical Officer of Health Middlesex-London Health Unit 50 King St. London, Ontario N6A 5L7 phone: 519-663-5317, ext. 2444 fax: 519-663-9581 e-mail: [email protected] MIDDLESEX-LONDON HEALTH UNIT – Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse - Final Report © Copyright information Middlesex-London Health Unit 50 King Street London, Ontario N6A 5L7 Cite reference as: Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse, Middlesex-London Health Unit (2000). Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse - Final Report. London, Ontario: Author. Author: Marion Boyd Crosshealth Consultant Services All rights reserved. Funding for this project was made available through the Public Health Research, Education and Development (PHRED) Program of the Middlesex-London Health Unit. MIDDLESEX-LONDON HEALTH UNIT – Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse - Final Report Table of Contents Executive Summary and Recommendations ........................................................................................................i Chapter I: Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse, Middlesex-London Health Unit, London, Ontario ....1 a) A Public Health Initiative .............................................................................................................1 b) Membership of the Task Force .....................................................................................................4 c) Mandate of the Task Force ...........................................................................................................6 d) Why the Mandate Excludes Consideration of Abuse of Men ............................................................6 e) The Task Force Process ................................................................................................................7 Chapter II: Woman Abuse as an Urgent Public Health Issue ...............................................................................9 a) The Definition of Woman Abuse ...................................................................................................9 b) Putting the Definition of Woman Abuse in Context ........................................................................9 c) The Prevalence of Woman Abuse ..................................................................................................9 d) The Cost of Woman Abuse ......................................................................................................... 10 e) The Public Health Approach to Woman Abuse ............................................................................. 11 Chapter III: The Health Effects of Woman Abuse .............................................................................................. 15 a) General Comments .................................................................................................................... 15 b) Fatal Health Effects ................................................................................................................... 15 c) Physical Health Effects .............................................................................................................. 15 d) Sexual Health Effects ................................................................................................................ 16 e) Psychological Health Effects ....................................................................................................... 16 f) Psychiatric Health Effects ........................................................................................................... 16 Chapter IV: The Indicators of Woman Abuse .................................................................................................... 17 a) General Comments .................................................................................................................... 17 b) Incidental Indicators of Abuse .................................................................................................... 17 c) Physical Indicators of Abuse ....................................................................................................... 17 d) Sexual Indicators of Abuse ........................................................................................................ 17 e) Indicators of Isolation Associated with Abuse .............................................................................. 17 f) Behavioural Indicators of Abuse .................................................................................................. 18 g) Social Indicators of Abuse .......................................................................................................... 18 h) Financial Indicators of Abuse ..................................................................................................... 18 Chapter V: Developing a Screening Protocol for Woman Abuse .......................................................................... 19 a) Terminology .............................................................................................................................. 19 b) Identification of Woman Abuse ................................................................................................... 20 c) Meeting the WHO Principles for Screening ................................................................................... 20 d) What Screening Protocols Currently Exist? ................................................................................. 21 e) Four Approaches to Screening .................................................................................................... 22 f) Indicator-Based Diagnosis vs Universal Screening ........................................................................ 22 g) Routine Universal Screening ...................................................................................................... 23 h) The Routine Universal Comprehensive Screening (RUCS) Protocol ................................................ 25 i) Task Force Response .................................................................................................................. 27 Chapter VI: Guidelines for the Screening Protocol ............................................................................................ 28 a) The Purpose of Screening ........................................................................................................... 28 b) The Elements of a Successful Screening Protocol ........................................................................ 28 c) The Guiding Principles for Applying the Screening Protocol .......................................................... 28 d) Who Should Routinely be Screened for Woman Abuse? ................................................................ 30 e) Who Should Screen for Woman Abuse? ....................................................................................... 30 MIDDLESEX-LONDON HEALTH UNIT – Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse - Final Report f) Basic Requirements for Successful Screening .............................................................................. 31 g) How Should Screening Occur? .................................................................................................... 32 h) When to Screen Routinely for Woman Abuse ............................................................................... 33 i) Developing a Personal Style ........................................................................................................ 33 Chapter VII: A Step by Step Guide to the Screening Protocol ............................................................................. 35 a) The Routine Universal Comprehensive Screening (RUCS) Protocol: The Flow Chart ....................... 35 b) Introductory Question ............................................................................................................... 35 c) When She Says "No Abuse" ........................................................................................................ 36 d) When She Discloses Abuse ........................................................................................................ 36 e) Health Assessment and Documentation ...................................................................................... 38 f) Safety Check/Safety Planning ..................................................................................................... 39 g) Referral and Follow-up ............................................................................................................... 42 Chapter VIII: The Referral Network as an Essential Ingredient .......................................................................... 45 a) Achieving an Effective Integrated Network ................................................................................... 45 b) Future Considerations ............................................................................................................... 46 Chapter IX: The Challenges of Implementation ................................................................................................. 47
Load more

Recommended publications
  • " We Are Family?": the Struggle for Same-Sex Spousal Recognition In
    INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be fmrn any type of computer printer, The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reprodudion. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e-g., maps, drawings, &arb) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to tight in equal sections with small overlaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6' x 9" black and Mite photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustratims appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell 8 Howell Information and Leaning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 "WE ARE FAMILY'?": THE STRUGGLE FOR SAME-SEX SPOUSAL RECOGNITION IN ONTARIO AND THE CONUNDRUM OF "FAMILY" lMichelIe Kelly Owen A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto Copyright by Michelle Kelly Owen 1999 National Library Bibliothiique nationale l*B of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services sewices bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395.
    [Show full text]
  • Mon 18 Apr 2005 / Lun 18 Avr 2005
    No. 130A No 130A ISSN 1180-2987 Legislative Assembly Assemblée législative of Ontario de l’Ontario First Session, 38th Parliament Première session, 38e législature Official Report Journal of Debates des débats (Hansard) (Hansard) Monday 18 April 2005 Lundi 18 avril 2005 Speaker Président Honourable Alvin Curling L’honorable Alvin Curling Clerk Greffier Claude L. DesRosiers Claude L. DesRosiers Hansard on the Internet Le Journal des débats sur Internet Hansard and other documents of the Legislative Assembly L’adresse pour faire paraître sur votre ordinateur personnel can be on your personal computer within hours after each le Journal et d’autres documents de l’Assemblée législative sitting. The address is: en quelques heures seulement après la séance est : http://www.ontla.on.ca/ Index inquiries Renseignements sur l’index Reference to a cumulative index of previous issues may be Adressez vos questions portant sur des numéros précédents obtained by calling the Hansard Reporting Service indexing du Journal des débats au personnel de l’index, qui vous staff at 416-325-7410 or 325-3708. fourniront des références aux pages dans l’index cumulatif, en composant le 416-325-7410 ou le 325-3708. Copies of Hansard Exemplaires du Journal Information regarding purchase of copies of Hansard may Pour des exemplaires, veuillez prendre contact avec be obtained from Publications Ontario, Management Board Publications Ontario, Secrétariat du Conseil de gestion, Secretariat, 50 Grosvenor Street, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 50 rue Grosvenor, Toronto (Ontario) M7A 1N8. Par 1N8. Phone 416-326-5310, 326-5311 or toll-free téléphone : 416-326-5310, 326-5311, ou sans frais : 1-800-668-9938.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Convocation Conseil Extraordinaire
    June/ Ju in 2012 LET RIGHT PREVAIL Barreau The Law Society of du Haut-Canada Upper Canada Special Conseil Convocation extraordinaire The conferring of la remise d'un grade an honorary degree cmd honrifique et l 'assennentation the call to the bar des candidats et of the candidates des candidates CONTENTS ROY THOMSON HALL Toronto, Ontario 7 Wednesday, June l3, 2012 9:30 a.m. ROY THOMSON HALL I I Toronto, Ontario Friday, June 15, 2012 9:00 a.m. ROY THOMSON HALL 15 Toronto, Ontario Friday, June 15, 2012 2:30 p.m. NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE 19 Ottawa, Ontario Tuesday, June l 9, 2012 lO:OO a.m. CENTRE NATIONAL DES ARTS Ottawa (Ontario) Le mardi 19 juin 2012 10 h 00 LONDON CONVENTION CENTRE 23 London, Ontario Thursday, June 2 l, 20 l 2 2:30 p.m. MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER LE MESSAGE DU TRESOR/ER 2 oday is a day to celebrate! Congratulations A ujourd'hui est un jour de celebration! T on joining an extraordinary profession with a J-\.. Felicitations pour votre adhesion a une long tradition of service to the public. You should profession extraordinaire qui s'inscrit dans une be proud of your achievement. and proud of the longue tradition de service au public. Yous devriez profession you ha\'e chosen. etre fiers de votre reussite et de la profession que vous avez chois1e. Two hundred and fifteen years ago. ten of the fifteen la\\yers then practising in Upper Canada Voila deux cent quinze ans. I 0 des 15 avocats met in Niagara-on-the-Lake and founded the exen;ant alors le droit au Haut-Canada se Law Society of Upper Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Accounts of the Province of Ontario for the Year Ended March
    PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, 1994-95 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Hon. Elmer Buchanan, Minister DETAILS OF EXPENDITURE Voted Salaries and Wages ($87,902,805) Temporary Help Services ($1,329,292): Management Board Secretariat, 1,220,010; Accounts under $50,000—109,282. Less: Recoveries from Other Ministries ($196,635): Environment and Energy, 196,635. Employee Benefits ($13,866,524) Payments for Canada Pension Plan, 1 ,594,486; Dental Plan, 95 1 ,332; Employer Health Tax, 1 ,702,083; Group Life Insurance, 170,970; Long Term Income Protection, 1,028,176; Supplementary Health and Hospital Plan, 1,016,690; Unemployment Insurance, 3,017,224; Unfunded Liability— Public Service Pension Fund, 1,024,574. Other Benefits: Attendance Gratuities, 401,716; Death Benefits, 18,660; Early Retirement Incentive, 467,244; Maternity/Parental/Adoption Leave Allowances, 530,045; Severance Pay, 1,494,057; Miscellaneous Benefits, 51,035. Workers' Compensation Board, 315,097. Payments to Other Ministries ($152,141): Accounts under $50,000—152,141. Less: Recoveries from Other Ministries ($69,006): Accounts under $50,000—69,006. Travelling Expenses ($3,859,979) Hon. Elmer Buchanan, 7,002; P. Klopp, 3,765; R. Burak, 9,912; W.R. Allen, 13,155; D.K. Alles, 16,276; P.M. Angus, 23,969; D. Beattie, 12,681; A. Bierworth, 14,510; J.L. Cushing, 12,125; L.L. Davies, 11,521; P. Dick, 16,999; E.J. Dickson, 11,231; R.C. Donais, 10,703; J.R. Drynan, 10,277; R. Dunlop, 10,662; JJ. Gardner, 43,319; C.L. Goubau, 12,096; N. Harris, 12,593; F.R Hayward, 26,910; M.
    [Show full text]
  • Le 20 Décembre, 2004 L'honorable Michael Bryant Ministère Du Procureur Général 720 Rue Bay, 11E Étage Toronto, Ontario M
    Le 20 décembre, 2004 L’honorable Michael Bryant Ministère du procureur général 720 rue Bay, 11e étage Toronto, Ontario M5G 2K1 L’honorable Sandra Pupatello Ministre déléguée à la Condition féminine 400 avenue University, 6e étage Toronto, Ontario M7A, 2R9 Cher Monsieur le procureur général, chère Madame la ministre déléguée à la Condition féminine : Veuillez trouver ci-joint le rapport de mon enquête sur l’arbitrage des questions de droit familial et successoral, et son impact sur les personnes vulnérables. J’aurais l’honneur de discuter avec vous des recommandations au début de la nouvelle année. Veuillez agréer, Monsieur, Madame, l’expression de mes sentiments les plus distingués. Marion Boyd Résolution des différends en droit de la famille: pour protéger le choix, pour promouvoir l’inclusion décembre 2004 par Marion Boyd Table des matières Section 1: Introduction et plan du rapport 2 Section 2: Loi et pratique de l’arbitrage 9 Section 3: Droit de la famille et successions 20 Section 4: Résumé des consultations 32 Section 5: Considérations d’ordre constitutionnel 77 Section 6: Analyse 87 Section 7: Suggestions soumises dans les mémoires 116 Section 8: Recommandations 142 Annexe I Mandat 153 Annexe II Liste des participants 155 Annexe III Liste des soumissions 164 Annexe IV Règles de procédure pour la conciliation 167 Annexe V Règles pour l’arbitrage 173 Annexe VI Convention d’arbitrage (Epstein Cole LLP) 181 Annexe VII Certificat d’avis juridique indépendant (B’nai Brith) 187 Annexe VIII Déclaration sous serment (B’nai Brith) 193 Liste des abréviations 196 Bibliographie 198 1 Introduction et plan du rapport Section 1 : Introduction et plan du rapport La présente étude découle d’une suite d’évènements portés à l’attention du public à l’automne 20031.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Accounts of the Province Of
    . PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, 1993-94 9 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Hon. Elmer Buchanan, Minister DETAILS OF EXPENDITURE Voted Salaries and Wages ($88,843,852) Temporary Help Services ($1 ,209,981 ): Kelly Temporary Help Services, 56,227; Management Board Secretariat, 928,847; Pinstripe Personnel Inc., 85,064; Accounts under $44,000—139,843. Less: Recoveries from Other Ministries ($413,955): Environment and Energy, 136,421 ; Management Board Secretariat, 277,534. Employee Benefits ($22,051 ,583) Payments for: Canada Pension Plan, 1,513,735; Dental Plan, 856,975; Employer Health Tax, 1,864,594; Group Life Insurance, 191,847; Long Term Income Protection, 1,043,560; Public Service Pension Fund, 6,498,417; Supplementary Health and Hospital Plan, 951,845; Unemployment Insurance, 2,865,580; Unfunded Liability—Public Service Pension Fund, 2,635,782. Other Benefits: Attendance Gratuities, 550,233; Death Benefits, 13,494; Early Retirement Incentive, 899,146; Maternity Leave Allowances, 482,518; Severance Pay, 1,402,869; Miscellaneous Benefits, 92,951 Workers' Compensation Board, 286,515. Payments to Other Ministries ($91 ,549): Management Board Secretariat, 71 ,951 ; Accounts under $44,000—19,598. Less: Recoveries from Other Ministries ($190,027): Accounts under $44,000—190,027. Travelling Expenses ($3,108,328) Hon. Elmer Buchanan, 3,603; P. Klopp, 2,392; R. Burak, 8,212; P.M. Angus, 12,779; D. Beattie, 17,484; B.T. Bell, 8,273; P.K. Blay, 15,244; R. Brown, 9,130; P.J. Butler, 12,842; R.J. Butts, 8,355; L.L. Davies, 9,353; S.J. Delafield, 9,726; E.J.
    [Show full text]
  • Andrew Flavelle Martin, the Government Lawyer As Activist
    28 Windsor Review of Legal and Social Issues Vol. 41 THE GOVERNMENT LAWYER AS ACTIVIST: A LEGAL ETHICS ANALYSIS Andrew Flavelle Martin* INTRODUCTION Can a lawyer represent the government and be an activist at the same time? That is, can a lawyer and government employee represent the government in her professional life while being an activist in her personal life? There is a striking and seemingly irreducible clash, at least at the intuitive and visceral level, between the two roles—between representing the government on the one hand while at the same time lobbying it or litigating against it on the other. Government lawyers are nonetheless some of the more successful activists in recent Canadian history. Consider, for example, david Lepofsky. Lepofsky is perhaps Canada’s leading activist for the rights of persons with disabilities. He has lobbied and litigated to great effect, and his impact on Canadian law and policy at all levels of government is undeniable. While he was accomplishing these things, he spent most of his professional career as a constitutional and criminal appellate litigator for the Government of Ontario. The question that appears to have gone unasked, much less answered, is whether it was legitimate for Lepofsky to pursue these two very different streams at the same time. That is to say, is this duality problematic from a legal ethics perspective? does it matter what kind of practice a lawyer like Lepofsky has or what cause or kind of activism she pursues? In this article, I propose answers to these difficult questions. My purpose is to better understand Lepofsky’s legitimacy and legacy and to provide guidance to those who might follow his example.
    [Show full text]
  • Wed 27 Oct 1999 / Mer 27 Oct 1999
    No. 5B No 5B ISSN 1180-2987 Legislative Assembly Assemblée législative of Ontario de l’Ontario First Session, 37th Parliament Première session, 37e législature Official Report Journal of Debates des débats (Hansard) (Hansard) Wednesday 27 October 1999 Mercredi 27 octobre 1999 Speaker Président Honourable Gary Carr L’honorable Gary Carr Clerk Greffier Claude L. DesRosiers Claude L. DesRosiers Hansard on the Internet Le Journal des débats sur Internet Hansard and other documents of the Legislative Assembly L’adresse pour faire paraître sur votre ordinateur personnel can be on your personal computer within hours after each le Journal et d’autres documents de l’Assemblée législative sitting. The address is: en quelques heures seulement après la séance est : http://www.ontla.on.ca/ Index inquiries Renseignements sur l’index Reference to a cumulative index of previous issues may be Adressez vos questions portant sur des numéros précédents obtained by calling the Hansard Reporting Service indexing du Journal des débats au personnel de l’index, qui vous staff at 416-325-7410 or 325-3708. fourniront des références aux pages dans l’index cumulatif, en composant le 416-325-7410 ou le 325-3708. Copies of Hansard Exemplaires du Journal Information regarding purchase of copies of Hansard may Pour des exemplaires, veuillez prendre contact avec be obtained from Publications Ontario, Management Board Publications Ontario, Secrétariat du Conseil de gestion, Secretariat, 50 Grosvenor Street, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 50 rue Grosvenor, Toronto (Ontario) M7A 1N8. Par 1N8. Phone 416-326-5310, 326-5311 or toll-free téléphone : 416-326-5310, 326-5311, ou sans frais : 1-800-668-9938.
    [Show full text]
  • 791 Religious Arbitration in Ontario—Making the Case
    04 CHOKSI (DO NOT DELETE) 3/14/2012 9:24 PM RELIGIOUS ARBITRATION IN ONTARIO—MAKING THE CASE BASED ON THE BRITISH EXAMPLE OF THE MUSLIM ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL BILAL M. CHOKSI* 1. INTRODUCTION In 2006, the province of Ontario banned arbitration of family law disputes under any body of laws except Ontario law, in part to prohibit arbitration under religious laws.1 The province passed this legislation amidst political pressure from lobbyist groups to prevent the establishment of the Islamic Institute of Civil Justice (IICJ), a religious arbitration tribunal.2 The province took this action despite its initial strong optimism towards religious arbitration of family law disputes.3 In light of the province‘s * Senior Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law School Journal of International Law, Vol. 33. J.D. Candidate, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2012; B. Sc. Econ (Finance and Management), The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 2008. I would like to thank God, my Parents, Maryam, family and friends for all their support and encouragement. I would also like to thank Shaykh Faiz Siddiqi for all his groundbreaking work in the UK that made this analysis possible, and for his time and guidance. Errors and inaccuracies are entirely my own. 1 See Almas Khan, The Interaction Between Shariah and International Law in Arbitration, 6 CHI. J. INT‘L L. 791, 792 (2006) (noting that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty sought to pass legislation to prevent arbitration of family law disputes under any law except Ontario law to prohibit religious law from being employed in arbitration); Eli Walker, Don’t Throw Out My Baby! Why Dalton McGuinty Was Wrong To Reject Religious Arbitration, 11 APPEAL REV.
    [Show full text]
  • The Law Society of Upper Canada
    Convocation - Consent Agenda - Motion Tab 1 THE LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA MOTION TO BE MOVED AT THE MEETING OF CONVOCATION ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 MOVED BY: Michael Lerner SECONDED BY: Catherine Strosberg THAT Convocation approve the consent agenda set out at Tab 1 of the Convocation Materials. 6 Convocation - Consent Agenda - Motion Tab 1.1 D R A F T MINUTES OF CONVOCATION Thursday, 27th June, 2013 8:30 a.m. PRESENT: The Treasurer (Thomas G. Conway), Anand, Armstrong, Backhouse, Boyd, Braithwaite, Bredt, Callaghan, Campion, Chilcott (by telephone), Dickson, Doyle, Dray, Earnshaw, Elliott, Epstein, Eustace (by telephone), Evans, Falconer, Ferrier, Furlong, Goldblatt, Gottlieb, Halajian (by telephone), Hare, Hartman, Horvat, Hunter (by telephone), Krishna, Leiper, Lerner (by telephone), MacLean, Manes (by telephone), Marmur, McDowell, McGrath, Mercer, Millar, Minor, Murchie, Murray, Pawlitza, Porter (by telephone), Potter, Pustina, Rabinovitch, Richardson, Richer, Ross, Rothstein, Ruby, Sandler, Scarfone, Schabas, Sheff, Silverstein, C. Strosberg, Sullivan, Swaye, Symes, Wadden, Wardlaw and Wright (by telephone). ……… Secretary: James Varro The Reporter was sworn. 7 THIS PAGE CONTAINS IN CAMERA MATERIAL Convocation - Consent Agenda - Motion ……… IN PUBLIC ……… ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ELECTION OF TREASURER The Secretary announced that as of the close of nominations at 5:00 p.m. on May 9, 2013, there was one candidate for the election of Treasurer. Thomas G. Conway was declared elected as Treasurer. TREASURER’S REMARKS The Treasurer addressed Convocation on the subject of his first term as Treasurer and thanked benchers and staff for their support. The Treasurer expressed condolences to the family and friends of The Honourable Justice Edward W. Ducharme, former bencher, who passed away on June 2, 2013.
    [Show full text]
  • Lessons from the 2003-2006 “Sharia Debate” (Or, How Dalton Mcguinty Dropped the Ball)
    BLOG POST 1 By Jennifer Selby & Anna Korteweg Lessons from the 2003-2006 “Sharia Debate” (Or, How Dalton McGuinty Dropped the Ball) Nine years ago, in late 2003, the head of the Islamic Institute of Civil Justice (IICJ) Syed Mumtaz Ali held a press conference announcing it was offering arbitration services in family disputes in accordance with Sharia (Islamic law) and the province of Ontario’s 1991 Arbitration Act. An explosive international public debate followed. At its starkest, the debate portrayed the issue as one in which Canadian Muslims, guided by international Islamic fundamentalists, sought to create a parallel legal justice system, which, opponents feared, would weaken the rights of Muslim women and the functioning of the liberal democratic state. Our volume, Debating Sharia, delves more deeply into issues surrounding the debate. In particular contributors note how: • The debate ignored key aspects of the everyday reality of living a Muslim life in a Western country. Muslims in Ontario sought mediation but not arbitration. Furthermore, it is primarily Muslim women who turn to imams and other religious authorities to grant them a religious divorce. These religious authorities tend to clearly distinguish between religious and civil divorce. • Despite a focus on Muslim women’s rights, public discourse failed to appreciate the gendered implications of arbitrating family affairs, whether according to Western legal practice or Islamic jurisprudence. Arbitration in heterosexual relationships assumes both parties enter negotiations from a similar position of power. However, they do so rarely. The debate did not lead to a meaningful discussion of the ways in which family law arbitration reproduces gendered power dynamics.
    [Show full text]
  • Family Arbitration: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back Shelley Mcgill
    Journal of Law and Social Policy Volume 21 Article 3 2007 Family Arbitration: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back Shelley McGill Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/jlsp Citation Information McGill, Shelley. "Family Arbitration: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back." Journal of Law and Social Policy 21. (2007): 49-62. https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/jlsp/vol21/iss1/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Osgoode Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Law and Social Policy by an authorized editor of Osgoode Digital Commons. FAMILY ARBITRATION: ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK SHELLEY MCGILL* RgsuMi La r~glementation introduite rcemment en Ontario en mati~re d'arbitrage familial repr~sente une rupture importante avec la politique existante sur l'arbitrage. Le nou- veau cadre comporte un m&anisme compliqu6 de freins et de contrepoids visant A pr~munir les parties vuln~rables contre des accords pouvant intervenir avant rarbi- trage. Il remet en question les principes bien 6tablis en mati~re d'arbitrage que sont 'autonomie des parties, la finalit6, et la confidentialit& Cet article passe en revue les nouvelles exigences en mati~re d'arbitrage familial en vertu de la Loi de 2006 modi- fiant des lois en ce qui concerne des questionsfamiliales et 6tablit une comparaison avec les recommandations de Marion Boyd, ex-procureure g~n~rale de l'Ontario, contenues dans son rapport intitul6 Dispute Resolution in Family Law: Protecting Choice, PromotingInclusion (,, Risolution de conflits dans le droitfamilial : prottger le choix, promouvoir l'inclusion ,,).
    [Show full text]