Our Reflections: International Women’s Day 2024
When thinking about International Women’s Day, many things come to mind, but perhaps the word that best resonates for today’s global political landscape is “resilience”.
The echo of women’s resilience is present in all arenas of the globe. Women around the world continue to fight for basic fundamental rights even in 2024. When reflecting on our achievements as women, it is important to recognize that the application of women’s rights is not equally applied everywhere. It remains our duty as a society to amplify and advocate for all, even if we are not directly faced with the consequences of the imbalance.
Having reminded readers of the advocacy work that is still needed, we would be remiss not to put a spotlight on women in our life who are “resilient” role models.
Our Spotlights
“A woman who inspires me would be my mom. She has raised four kids on her own and despite everything that life has thrown at her, she has always found a way to keep us safe, clothed and fed. For the countless sacrifices she has made for us, I hope to be able to repay her someday.” - Darielle
“Since we were little, my sister has helped raise me into the person I am today. She is and always has been an advocate for myself and my daughter as well as to others in the DTES, LGBTQIAS2 community and the BIPOC community. My sister has always been a role model to me and to date, I will always run to her when I need an adult.” - Jennifer
“As a woman, it has been a difficult year as I have had to watch other women lose their rights amidst global conflicts. This year I acknowledge the resilience of the women of Palestine and in particular the advocacy work of Bisan Owda. Bisan, a journalist, has been providing real time updates from Palestine and is bravely advocating for the rights of all Palestinians while fighting for her own life. I am in awe of her bravery and she is a true inspiration.” - Amber
Kitsilano Family Law: Reflections as a Summer StudentMy name is Isa Nafissi, and I am a second-year law student at the Peter Allard School of Law at UBC. This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as a summer student at Kitsilano Family Law, where I gained hands-on experience by supporting the lawyers on various cases.
Queer Separation in British ColumbiaUnder British Columbia’s Family Law Act (“FLA”) (and the Divorce Act), Queer couples enjoy the same legal rights as heterosexual couples. This means that the processes for separation, including obtaining orders or agreements on parenting arrangements, child support, spousal support, property division, and divorce, are the same for all families in British Columbia.
Pets under the Family Law ActOn January 24, 2024, amendments (changes) were made to the Family Law Act (FLA) to reflect the long-held sentiment that pets are members of the family. It is no wonder why animals can become part of the dispute during a separation; the prospect of a person being separated from their pet can cause fear and distress for individuals.