"The best test of a civilised society is the way in which it treats its most vulnerable and weakest members." Mahatma Gandhi
UN housing specialist to tour Canada's poorest postal code Mr. Kothari, who is based in Geneva, is to spend two days in Vancouver, said David Eby of the Pivot Legal Society, an activist group that provides legal assistance to Vancouver's poor and homeless. [Globa & Mail, Aug 31, 2007]
Straight Talk: Mayor has "open mind" in police re-review Mayor Sam Sullivan says he's willing to take a second look at Pivot Legal Society's complaint that then–Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham stalled an RCMP investigation into police abuses in the Downtown Eastside. [Georgia Straight, Aug 30, 2007]
Activists seek UN boost for city's homeless Pivot Legal Society is arranging the Special Rapporteur's consultation with nonprofit organizations based in Western Canada. Pivot's David Eby met Kothari in Geneva in June this year when the Vancouver lawyer spoke before a workshop by the UN-funded group Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions. [Georgia Straight, Aug 30, 2007] The oldest profession Vancouver lawyers Katrina Pacey, of Pivot Legal LLP, and Joseph Arvay launched a challenge on August 3, claiming that three provisions in the Criminal Code–those against communicating, operating bawdyhouses, and living on the avails of prostitution–contribute to the escalating violence against sex workers. [Georgia Straight, Aug 30, 2007]
DTES Dirty Sanchez: Making Money from SROs “Our main concern is if [Wilson is] supposed to running the SROs for the province and he’s giving out illegal eviction notices at [334 Carrall], what’s he doing at the other buildings?” asks David Eby, a lawyer for Pivot Legal Society who is representing the tenants of 334 Carrall. [Only magazine, Aug 29, 2007]
Slain man was bipolar, family says The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner is also monitoring the situation, and the coroner's department is expected to conduct an inquiry. But, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and the Pivot Legal Society are calling for a separate, civilian review. [Globe & Mail, Aug 21, 2007]
When should police shoot? John Richardson, executive director of the Pivot Legal Society, said he'd also like to see police receive more training in dealing with the mentally ill -- and for them to use alternatives like the Taser and bean-bag rounds whenever possible. [Vancouver Sun, Aug 18, 2007]
RCMP to review Vancouver police shooting probe Critics have said for years the police should not be allowed to investigate themselves. John Richardson of the Pivot Legal Society said he regrets the review won't be done by an outside agency completely independent of the police. [Vancouver Sun, Aug 17, 2007]
New chief 'prejudges' police-shooting probe - Pivot Society critical of Chu's remarks on VPD's conduct The Pivot Legal Society has accused new Vancouver police Chief Jim Chu of jeopardizing the investigation into Monday's fatal shooting of a 39-year-old man by police. [The Province, Aug 16, 2007]
PIVOT Legal Society calls for independent investigation into fatal police shooting PIVOT's John Richardson says an independent civilian body like the one in Ontario should look into the incident, or at least an outside police force like the Mounties. [News1130, Aug 15, 2007]
Chief's comment on police shooting inappropriate, says activist The Pivot Legal Society's John Richardson said Tuesday the chief should not be commenting on the police shooting of a man before an investigation is complete. [CBC, Aug 15, 2007]
Prostitutes are right to challenge laws that endanger their lives Last week, lawyers for the Downtown Eastside Sex Workers United Against Violence Society, a group of mostly aboriginal women who work in the sex trade, filed a statement of claim in B.C. [Vancouver Sun editorial, Aug 14, 2007]
Controversy follows chief into retirement The case involved the Pivot Legal Society's claim that Graham had obstructed an RCMP investigation into a Pivot report on police abuses in the Downtown Eastside. [Georgia Straight, Aug 9, 2007]
Judge orders Vancouver police to pay aboriginal woman compensation Later, she took police to the small claims court, with the help of the Pivot Legal Society, an advocacy group that works on behalf of marginalized people fighting against police abuse. [CBC, Aug 8, 2007]
Housing homeless top priority, 'civil' city official says "Geoff Plant's credentials speak for themselves. He has extensive experience in criminal law and policy," said David Eby, a lawyer with the non-profit Pivot Legal Society. [Globe & Mail, Aug 8, 2007]
Activists launch challenge of federal prostitution law The Downtown Eastside Sex Workers United Against Violence Society, formed by the Pivot Legal Society, is asking the courts to find laws that govern selling sex for money unconstitutional under a number of Charter of Rights and Freedoms sections. [Times Colonist (Victoria), Aug 8, 2007]
Two city lawyers challenge Canada's prostitution laws On Thursday, lawyers Katrina Pacey of Pivot Legal LLP and... [Vancouver Sun, Aug 3, 2007. This is the same CanWest story as the National Post below]
Prostitution laws face challenge On Thursday, lawyers Katrina Pacey of Pivot Legal LLP and Joseph Arvay planned to file the statement of claim on behalf of the Downtown Eastside Sex Workers United Against Violence Society, a group of mostly aboriginal women, some of whom have experienced physical or sexual violence because of their work in the sex trade. [National Post, Aug 3, 2007]
Group challenges Canada prostitution laws A Canadian group representing prostitutes in Vancouver says the country's prostitution laws are unconstitutional. [ImediNews, Aug 3, 2007]
Chief's Job Future Up in Air The investigation stems from Pivot Legal Society allegations that Graham didn't cooperate with the RCMP when it looked into 56 complaints of police misconduct filed by Downtown Eastside residents.[Vancouver Courier, Aug 3, 2007]
Incoming police chief Jim Chu gets plenty of free advice Another of Chu's stakeholders is the Pivot Legal Society. In October 2002, the society published To Serve and Protect, a report that compiled affidavits from 50 people... [Georgia Straight, August 2, 2007]
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