Senators' Statements
Elizabeth Fry Week
May 8, 2017
The Honorable Senator Kim Pate:
Every year, the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies celebrates Elizabeth Fry week. On that occasion, Elizabeth Fry societies organize public events across the country. Elizabeth Fry week is always held the week before Mother's Day. The majority of incarcerated women are mothers, and most are the sole providers for their family's needs at the time of their imprisonment.
When mothers are sentenced to imprisonment, they and their children are sentenced to separation, a condition that many women and any mother would consider to be the most severe punishment. The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies aims to draw attention to this reality by ending Elizabeth's Fry's national week every year on Mother's Day.
The overarching goal of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies is to enhance public awareness and education and, most important, to remedy the circumstances of marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized women and girls.
By focusing on "Meeting Women's Needs in the Community and Alternatives to Institutionalization," the 24-member societies encourage Canadians to proactively focus on addressing substantive inequality and social justice matters from coast to coast to coast.
The hope is that we will redress discriminatory attitudes and instead contribute to the development of and support for community-based alternatives to imprisonment and thereby also alleviating incredible human, social and financial costs.
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies challenges all Canadians to reach behind the walls and bring women into our communities so that they may take responsibility and account for their actions in ways that make sense to them and to us.
Honourable senators, I ask that you join me in congratulating the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies and recognize the fine work of the local Elizabeth Fry Society here in Ottawa and all other member societies for the work they continue to do on behalf of marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized women and girls throughout the country. Happy Elizabeth Fry Week to all of you.
Thank you, merci, meegwetch.