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| January 2008 | |||
| BCCLA and Amnesty International Take on the Feds over Afghan Detainees | BCCLA Supports Robert Latimer in Parole Appeal | ||
| The BCCLA and Amnesty International have been successful in forcing the federal government to live up to their domestic and international legal obligations. The Canadian government admitted that they have ceased transferring detainees to Afghan authorities due to credible allegations of torture last November. The admission came on the eve of hearings in Ottawa in our lawsuit against the federal government. The BCCLA is seeking a court order to prohibit the transfer of detainees. BCCLA's legal arguments |
BCCLA President Jason Gratl is independently representing Robert Latimer in his appeal of a National Parole Board tribunal's decision to refuse Mr. Latimer parole on the basis that he shows no remorse for his crime. Long time BCCLA Board member John Dixon was instrumental in facilitating an appeal by Mr. Latimer. The appeal is based on the fact that Mr. Latimer poses no danger to society and that the Board has no jurisdiction to refuse parole under the legislation. Mr. Gratl's submission to the National Parole Board on behalf of Mr. Latimer BCCLA's press release |
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BCCLA Lodges Complaint in Case of Inhumane Jail Restraint of Teenager |
BCCLA To Co-Sponsor Event on Racial Profiling on February 21, 2008 |
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| The BCCLA has filed a complaint with the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner over the treatment of Willow Kinloch who was bound for over 4 hours in a Victoria jail with no apparent justification. BCCLA's complaint BCCLA's news release |
The BCCLA is co-sponsoring a free event on racial profiling on February 21, 2008 along with the Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives and other organizations. BCCLA President Jason Gratl will be speaking. More info |
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| Online Privacy: Is There Any? | |||
The Vancouver Public Library's Speak Up 2008 series is entitled My Virtual World. BCCLA Board Member, Richard Rosenberg, will be part of an expert panel speaking on the subject of Online Privacy: Is There Any? This free public talk is on Tues. Feb. 19th at 7 pm at the VPL Alice MacKay Room, Central Branch, 350 West Georgia. If you can't make that one, catch Policy Director Micheal Vonn on the same subject on Weds. Feb. 20th at 7 pm at the Vancouver Library Firehall Branch, 1455 West. 10th Ave. |
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| Voices of Liberty | |||
Friday, March 7, 2008, 7:00 pm Felix Culpa theatre company presents readings of works by political prisoners and victims of torture, followed by a performance of Revenge, David Bloom's new adaptation of the Jacobean classic The Revenger's Tragedy. This is a fundraiser for the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. |
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International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Lectures |
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Learn about the critical role of international human rights and humanitarian law to global peace and human dignity. This four-lecture series provides information about the development, purpose and substance of international human rights and humanitarian law and its application to current humanitarian crises. Each lecture offers a unique opportunity to engage with a distinguished expert on the law and its application to specific issues of global concern. The lecture series is motivated by the fact that lack of knowledge of these laws, at all levels, remains an impediment to meaningful enforcement and the resulting gap between law and practice has left millions unprotected from military aggression and grave human rights abuses and has ensured impunity for violators. Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) is a committee of Canadian lawyers who promote human rights and the rule of law internationally by providing support to advocates in danger because of their work as human rights defenders. This lecture series is the first step towards the development of a Canadian Centre for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law offering free public education. (event info) |
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| Tax Time is Around the Corner | |||
If your community group chooses a cause to support each year, please consider the BCCLA and we can provide leaflets or even a speaker. If your workplace conducts a United Way campaign, your regular gift can do twice as much if you designate it to the BC Civil Liberties Association and include our registered charity number: 888466844RR0001. For help with donations and memberships, please contact our new Director of Development, Sarah Sandusky, at 604-630-9750. As well, please contact Sarah to keep your address and contact information up to date so we can keep you informed of BCCLA activities. |
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| Civil Liberties Update is a summary of some of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association's recent work. The Association publishes a newsletter, The Democratic Commitment, an annual report and posts its positions, submissions, legal arguments and news releases at www.bccla.org. | |||
To unsubscribe to the Update please contact us by e-mail. |
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2007 tax receipts have been mailed. Thank you to each and every one of you who contributed to the BCCLA in 2007 via membership or donations! Please continue to help the BCCLA to be the leader in protecting civil liberties and human rights in Canada by renewing your membership or annual donation when you receive our request in the mail. There are many ways to support the BCCLA: by making a bequest in your will, naming the organization as a beneficiary in your life insurance policy, transferring stocks or shares, making a donation in honour of someone instead of buying a gift, throwing a fundraising party on our behalf, or inviting your friends to join the BCCLA.