CWP is proud to announce that our Executive Director, Leilani Farha, is the recipient of the first-ever Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award for her work on women’s rights and the right to adequate housing. Leilani joined CWP in September 0f 2012 after years of dedication to housing rights in the domestic and international arena. She is a human rights lawyer and an expert in economic and social rights.
Here is a link to an article in the Toronto Star, and the press release from the Schlifer Clinic:
Leilani Farha revealed as the 1st Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award recipient for her contributions to helping women live violence-free lives
Today, in celebration of “Barbra Schlifer Day” in Toronto, the Schlifer Clinic introduces Leilani Farha as the first-ever recipient of the Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award, sponsored by Tory’s LLP.
Leilani, Executive Director of Canada Without Poverty and an international human rights lawyer, is one of Canada’s leading experts on, and advocates for, women’s social and economic rights. She has worked tirelessly in her career to tackle the systemic barriers and injustices that put women at risk of violence. “Literally thousands of women have Leilani to thank for having avoided both violence and homelessness,” says Rita Morbia, Executive Director of Inter Pares.
An Arab Canadian woman, Leilani ensured intersectionality was included as an essential cornerstone when co-authoring the Montreal Principles – the first legal interpretation of the meaning and application of economic and social rights for women. “We are very proud and excited to confer the very first Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award to Leilani; it is highly deserved,” says Amanda Dale, Executive Director of the Schlifer Clinic.
The award will be presented to Leilani at the 19th Annual Barbra Schlifer Tribute, sponsored by Blakes LLP, a fundraiser widely attended by influential legal professionals in Toronto and other individuals that care about their community. Leilani, well-known for lending her compassionate, strong and passionate voice to her work, will speak at the event. “[Leilani] is fearless in promoting women’s equality and justice…but she charms even as she challenges,” says John Fraser, Executive Director of CERA.
This year’s Tribute event will take place on June 13th, at The Daniels Spectrum, a newly constructed architectural gem serving as the cultural hub of Regent Park at 585 Dundas Street East. Featuring a dinner, live entertainment and live auction, the Tribute delivers a fun-filled night in support of a good cause year after year. Tickets are available by calling 416-323-9149 ext 237.
April 11th was declared to be Barbra Schlifer Day in 1985, in memory of Barbra Teena Schlifer, an idealistic young lawyer who was tragically murdered before she could fulfill her dream of opening her own legal clinic. On April 11, 1980, Barbra was returning home from celebrating her call to the Bar, when she was brutally sexually assaulted and killed in the basement stairwell of her apartment building.
Barbra’s death changed the lives of those who were close to her and they resolved to use her tragedy as a catalyst for changing the world.Two lawyers who had planned to be her law partners decided to establish a clinic in Barbra’s honour to make the difference that Barbra had hoped to make as a lawyer before her life was cut short.
Established in memory of Barbra, the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a specialized clinic for women experiencing violence. Every year they help more than 4,000 women survivors of violence by providing counselling, legal representation and language interpretation. The Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award is conferred to a woman who burns with the same passion for justice that the legacy of Barbra represents.
“Leilani Farha puts the Spirit of Barbra Schlifer into all that she is and does as a lawyer, community activist, and passionate defender of the rights of women,” explains Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
Leilani’s career in human rights began at the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, an international human rights organization. There she established the first international Women’s Housing Rights Program. While at the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation, Leilani helped thousands of women secure housing in the face of household and/or spousal violence, as well as other forms of housing insecurity.
Leilani was the first human rights advocate to articulate the connections between violence against women and the international right to adequate housing. She also pioneered comparative research in the correlation of housing rights and violence against women in India, Nigeria and Palestine, resulting in the United Nations adopting new legal standards on women’s rights to adequate housing.
In Canada, Leilani has also been a major contributor to calls for a national housing strategy based in human rights principles.
“Leilani Farha is truly a pioneer in women’s equality rights”, affirms Ruth Goba, commissioner at the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
