Beverley Diamond


“Re” Thinking: Revitalization, Return, and Reconciliation in Contemporary Indigenous Expressive Culture.


learn more >

Michaëlle Jean and Jean-Daniel Lafond


TO THE ARTS, CITIZENS! : Social Mediation through the Arts


learn more >

Dr. Kwame Anthony Appiah


Society Matters: why should we value the Humanities?


learn more >

James Bartleman


Residential Schools: Have we forgotten our responsibility?


learn more >

Weaver, Johnson and Chuenpagdee


How Do We Build Resilient Communities in the Face of Climate Change?


learn more >

Gérard Bouchard and Graham Fraser


Pluralist Societies: what's their future?


learn more >

David Adams Richards


Threatened Identity: what do we lose when we lose the sense of place?


learn more >

Chief Shawn Atleo


First Nations Education: Can we afford to miss out?


learn more >

Antonine Maillet


Giving voice: Who speaks for the forgotten?


learn more >

Andrew Weaver, climatologist


How can Canadians keep their cool in a warming world?


learn more >
Diamond_web
michaelle_jean2_web
kwame_web
bartleman
climate change panel
bouchard_fraser
David_Adams_web
Shawn_Atleo_web
Antonine_web
feature_test2

A legal studies perspective on the R. v. J.A. case

Milena Stanoeva, Congress 2011 Team

Yesterday, the Supreme Court released its ruling in the R. v. J.A. case. The case questioned whether or not an unconscious person can grant consent in advance to sexual activities.

The defendant, J.A., and his girlfriend often had high-risk sex, during which he would strangle her into unconsciousness. In the incident that led to J.A.’s conviction, he strangled the complainant into unconsciousness and inserted a sex toy into her anus. Despite the complainant’s testimony that she had consented to the sex before losing consciousness, the court ruled against the defendant, affirming that a person must be conscious to grant consent.

Lise Gotell, one of the researchers at Congress this year, is presenting a paper entitled “R. v. J.A.: The Dark Underside of Affirmative Consent,” dealing with this case and its implications for sexual assault laws in Canada. A member of the Canadian Legal Studies Association, Gotell will examine the case within the context of Canada’s affirmative consent laws and draw conclusions as to their values and weaknesses. Gotell’s presentation will take place during a panel discussion on May 30th at 11:00.

Photo courtesy of JoeGratz on Flickr

AUCC100_eng_450x110

Recent Posts

CFI-SSH-Banner-E-220x250
ad_web_en