TORONTO – Aaden Pearson, Trans Rights Legal Fellow & Staff Lawyer at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the following statement regarding Quebec’s policy decision to detain transgender inmates according to anatomical sex:
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is deeply concerned by Quebec’s new policy mandating the detention of inmates based solely on their anatomical sex. This approach does not ensure equity in the treatment of inmates incarcerated in Quebec, and risks undermining the safety, dignity, and human rights of transgender and gender-diverse individuals, particularly those who may face increased vulnerability in correctional settings. Other measures are available to prison facilities in order to ensure the safety of the general population and correctional officers that do not deny a transgender inmate’s human rights.
Policies that disregard gender identity contravene rights enshrined in both the Canadian and Quebec Charters’ of rights and freedoms. We urge Quebec to reconsider this policy and to prioritize inclusive, evidence-based practices that recognize the lived realities of many incarcerated people.
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
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