As unhoused people are evicted from Strathcona Park, they look to local and international human rights laws to evaluate government decampment strategy and, based on these laws, issue a significantly low grade of “D”

Last month, the VSB released an independent review of the program, completed by Argyle Consulting. The review notes the negative impact of police in schools for Black and Indigenous students, notable as Black and Indigenous youth remain disproportionately criminalized.

Over the last year, we have witnessed the VPD push back against even the most modest budget cuts - despite layoffs, hiring freezes and cutbacks which impacted both unionized and non-unionized staff at the city.

PRESS ADVISORY: Prior to the VSB Trustee Meeting to discuss the School Liaison Officer Program, Justice for Girls, Pivot Legal Society and Cops Out of Schools will be holding a press conference at the VSB entrance.

Joint letter (HLN, CDPC, and Pivot) urging Vancouver to develop a “Vancouver Model” for decriminalization that is appropriately broad and responds to the aspirations and needs of people who use drugs.

On International Human Rights Day, the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition and Pivot Legal Society are renewing calls for an amendment to the BC Human Rights Code to include protections based on social condition.

Pivot’s Criminalization & Policing Campaigner, Meenakshi Mannoe, writes about defunding the VPD and the importance of shifting away from criminalization and enforcement and leaning into equity, inclusion, and social justice.

Read Pivot's new blog on how talk is cheap and local governments must Act Now! to decriminalize simple posession.

Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada delivered a unanimous decision on R v Zora; a case about bail breaches in which Pivot intervened with help from Vancouver-based criminal defence lawyer David Fai.

Our fight continues after an Ontario Court reaches a disappointing decision on prison-based needle exchange programs.