Symposium on Abortion in Canada and Call for Student Abstracts

Via the Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Listserv of the International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Programme, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto:

The International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Programme and the National Abortion Federation present:

A Symposium to Mark the 20th Anniversary of R v. Morgentaler
Of What Difference: Reflections on the Judgment and Abortion in
Canada Today

Friday, January 25, 2008, 9:00am  5:00pm
Faculty of Law, University of Toronto

This symposium celebrates the twenty year anniversary of R v. Morgentaler, wherein the Supreme Court of Canada held the criminal law on abortion unconstitutional. The symposium examines the significance of the judgment today: What difference has it made to women, providers and the politics of abortion in Canada?

Students are invited to submit abstracts on subjects related to the symposium, including:

• Rights in Practice: Barriers to Available and Accessible Services

• How does the law facilitate or impede Canadian women’s access to abortion?

• Our Abortion Providers: The Challenge of Their Work  What obstacles does a provider face in delivering care? How do we improve provider training and awareness?

• Abortion in Law and Politics  What role should the media play in the abortion debate? What is the relationship between law and politics in abortion reform?

• Canada in an International Context How does the regulation of abortion in Canada compare to other countries?

Three students will be selected to attend and display their posters at the symposium. Poster expenses, travel (within Canada) and accommodation for selected students will be covered.

Please submit abstracts of 250 words or less by November 1, 2007 to reprohealth.law@utoronto.ca

Successful applicants will be notified by email by December 10, 2007. For further information, contact Simone Cusack.