Ottawa, February 18, 2009

Sexual Assault Law, Practice and Activism in a Post-Jane Doe Era

Ten years have passed since Jane Doe’s landmark legal victory against the Toronto Police Service, which she sued for the violation of her constitutional right to equality and for the failure to warn her of the threat of a serial rapist.  To mark the anniversary, women from across Canada and around the world will gather at a conference being held at the University of Ottawa to assess the current responses to sexual assault.

While the last decade has witnessed changes to police investigation of sexual assault and the treatment afforded to women who report the crime, significant problems remain.  The rate at which women report sexual assault has fallen; conviction rates for the crime are abysmally low; “unfounded” rates of sexual assault are disproportionately high; and myths and stereotypes continue to define responses to the crime.

“Sexual Assault Law, Practice and Activism in a Post-Jane Doe Era” will take place at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law from March 6-7, 2009.  More than 60 Canadian and international feminist scholars and community activists will gather to analyze the aforementioned issues.  Other topics to be addressed include issues of Aboriginal and racialized women and sexual assault; sexual assault on campus, in war, marriage, sports, the military, and the medical profession; women with disabilities and sexual assault; HIV/AIDS and sexual assault; the role and impact of the media, legislators, the judicial system, policing, and more.

Presenters represent women and men from across Canada. International guests will visit from South Africa, Australia, the UK, Ghana, the Netherlands and the U.S.

The conference includes a free public lecture by Jane Doe on March 6 at 5:00 p.m. in celebration of International Women’s Day.

For a complete programme and other conference information, please visit: www.janedoe2009.uOttawa.ca.

For interviews with conference convener Professor Elizabeth Sheehy, Jane Doe or other participants, or for more information, please contact:

Amanda Leslie
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
613-562-5800 x. 2832
Amanda.Leslie@uOttawa.ca

Drew Kuntze
Communications & Events Management Officer
Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
613-562-5800 x. 3444
Andrew.Kuntze@uOttawa.ca