Milestones in Community Justice

METRAC initiated passage of criminal harassment (stalking) legislation in 1993. This legislation is crucial for women seeking legal protection and recourse when stalked by strangers, ex-partners, current partners, acquaintances, and family.

In 1997, we were involved in consultations about legislation to protect women’s records from disclosure in sexual assault cases. Now, women have more protection when going through the court system.

METRAC was granted standing at the 1998 coroner’s inquest into the murder of Arlene May to examine issues related to domestic violence and the killing of women by intimate partners. A number of important government and community initiatives have arisen in Ontario as a result of the inquest.

We conducted groundbreaking research and created resources for women on the topic of mediation and its impact on women leaving abusive relationships.

METRAC developed the Ontario Women’s Justice Network (OWJN) - a website for organizations and individuals on specific issues of the law’s impact on women and children who have experienced violence.

METRAC was a key participant in successful initiatives to end the use of Religious Arbitration in Family Law matters in Ontario.