Bio:
Kate McInturff is currently the Women's Human Rights Campaigner for Amnesty International, Canada, and past Executive Director of the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action [FAFIA]. She received her doctoral degree from the University of British Columbia in 2000, and taught at American University in Cairo. She is a leading expert on women's human rights norms and Canadian human rights policy. Her involvement in gender equality and human rights is focused on making international agreements on women's human rights a reality in women's everyday lives, and she works with local, national and multi-lateral organizations to develop mechanism that will ensure that international agreements are implemented.
Title of paper:
International Law and Women's Human Rights: Canada's "Mental Health" Initiative, the Promise vs the Practice'
Abstract:
In 2010, the Harper Government chose to focus its attention on the issue of maternal and child health. During the 2010 meetings of the G8 and the G20, the Government announced new investments and initiatives in this arena. Their initiatives, however, placed the Government squarely in one of the most contentious debates within international women's human rights law: the role of legal access to abortion in ensuring women?s attainment of their rights. Why has the Harper Government chosen this initiative at a time when they appear to be otherwise withdrawing from the domain of multi-lateral rights implementation? What is the impact and nature of the Harper Government?s initiative for women in Canada and globally? How does Canada's position measure up against the evolving debate on sexual and reproductive rights?