Reading Rights:

A Woman's Guide to the Law in Canada

Text and Illustrations by

Rahat Kurd

$15.00

for the Canadian Council of Muslim Women

2400 DUNDAS STREET, W., SUITE 513, MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA L5K 298

Reading Rights is the first convenient guide to Canadian laws that grant and protect rights and freedoms for women at work, within the family, and in the courts. In simple, non-legal language, illustrated with humorous cartoons, this book gives authoritative answers to a host of questions: "What should I do in the case of abuse, sexual harassment, or racial discrimination? What are my rights to child custody and property in the event of separation or divorce from my spouse? How do equality rights affect my job? What are my political rights as an immigrant or refugee? Where can I turn for help?" Includes a directory of Canadian human rights commissions and women's associations as well as copies of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"Reading Rights is a valuable educational tool. This guide will appeal to the ordinary woman looking for information on a specific point of law, as well as to service providers and legal experts who are looking for an effective way of clarifying different aspects of the law to their clients."- Mobina S.B. Jaffer, LL.B., Q.C.

"A good, accurate, very useful handbook for the nonspecialist." - Phil Rankin, LL.B., Secretary of the BC Immigration Section of the Canadian Bar Association
 

Rahat Kurd has created resource materials for many Canadian non-profit organizations and doodles in cartoons when lost for words. Sponsored by the Canadian Council of Muslim Women.

Table of Contents

Preface by Mobina S.B. Jaffer, LL.B., Q.C.

WHAT IS A RIGHT?

14 The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
14 Local Rights
15 The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
15 Types of Rights & Freedoms

HUMAN RIGHTS

20 How Does the Law Protect Human Rights?
20 What Is Discrimination?
23 Preventing Human Rights Abuses

EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

27 Fair Treatment of Job Applicants
28 On the Job Rights and Benefits
29 Employment Standards Laws
31 Unions and Collective Agreements
32 Contract and Freelance Work

MARRIAGE RIGHTS

35 Legal Requirements
35 The Ceremony & the License
36 Rights and Duties of a Married Person
37 Marriage Contracts
38 Common-Law Relationships
39 Same-Sex Relationships

SEPARATION AND DIVORCE

41 Basic Questions
42 Personal Safety
42 Separation Agreements and Divorce Settlements

ABUSE

47 The Criminal Code Definitions
48 Child Abuse
49 Taking Action Against Abuse
50 Reporting Abuse
51 What Happens to Abusers?

RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY

52 Age Discrimination
53 Elder Abuse
53 Financial Security
54 Health Care and Social Service Needs
54 Dignity

IMMIGRATION AND VISA LAWS

56 Status
57 Who Can Come to Canada?
57 Visas
58 Immigration
60 Refugees
62 Becoming a Citizen
62 Citizenship Rights

POWER OF ATTORNEY - THE COURTS

65 Criminal vs Civil Court Cases
66 Tools for Change
67 Social Principles

69 References and Guides to the Law
71 Sources of Further Information
75 Women's Associations in Canada
77 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
86 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms