National Association of Women and the Law

We are a not-for-profit feminist organization that promotes the equality rights of women through legal education, research and law reform advocacy.

For more than 45 years, the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) has worked on its own and in collaboration with others to advance feminist law reform in Canada. We’re proud to have had a major role in achieving significant milestones for Canadian women’s equality, and for our feminist legal analysis and advocacy to have impacted countless laws and policies across the country — most notably in relation to the Canadian Human Rights Act and Sections 15 and 28 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Today, we continue to write briefs and discussions papers and appear before Parliamentary and Senate committees, and meet with decision makers to influence the law making process on current and emerging feminist law reform priorities. And through our work and collaborations with feminist lawyers, students, service providers, academics, activists and allies, we are (re)building a feminist law reform network and increasing the capacities of women to engage in the law making process.

Rebuilding Feminist Law Reform Capacity

increasing women’s capacities to meaningfully engage in the law making process

In August 2017, NAWL received funding from Status of Women Canada (now Women and Gender Equality Canada) to implement a three-year project to increase women’s capacities to meaningfully engage in the law making process.

Since then, NAWL has been leading feminist advocacy with decision-makers on current federal law reform issues. We have also joined in solidarity with, and supported the work of, a range of feminist and equality-seeking organizations, networks and coalitions, working together on a wide range of women’s rights issues.

We have been updating and developing resources and tools to support current and emerging feminist law reformers. By convening workshops and consultations across the country to strengthen women’s capacities and commitment to engage in the law making process at the federal level, we are building a diverse and inclusive network of lawyers, students, service providers, academics, activists and allies.