Program
Keynote Sessions:
Reproductive health and the prison systems in Canada - Dr. Martha Paynter, Contraception and Abortion Research Team, UBC
Systemic Discrimination and the Denial of Children's Rights in Incarceration Decisions - Prof. Robin Hansen, Associate Professor, College of Law, USask
Panel Discussion:
Dr. Kim Audett, Research and Implementation Branch, Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety & Kathy Neil, Deputy Commissioner Indigenous Corrections, Correctional Service Canada
Abstracts
Women and gender diverse people are the fastest growing population in prisons around the world, and yet, as a small portion of the overall incarcerated population, their sexed and gendered health needs are under-recognized and under-served. The reproductive health experiences and outcomes of incarcerated women are under-researched, with available evidence suggesting higher rates of unintended pregnancy, and unmet contraceptive, perinatal and LGTBQ+ health needs.
To address this knowledge gap, this presentation describes use of integrated knowledge translation to conduct qualitative and quantitative studies in partnership with currently and formerly incarcerated women and gender diverse people; frontline service providers; family planning health professionals; and
prison administrative leadership to enhance relevance and impact of findings.
Speaker:
Dr. Martha Paynter, Contraception and Abortion Research Team, UBC
Dr. Martha Paynter has worked to advance abortion access in Canada for over 20 years. A writer, nurse and public scholar, she is recognized internationally for her expertise at the nexus of reproductive and prisoner health. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Nursing; Director of Nursing Research for the Contraception and Abortion Research Team, a national network based out of the UBC Faculty of Medicine; Affiliate Scientist for the Reproductive Options and Services ROSE abortion Clinic at Nova Scotia Health; a member of the Dalhousie University Health Law and Justice Institute; and founder and past chair of Wellness Within: An Organization for Health and Justice, the only non-profit in Canada dedicated to advancing reproductive justice for people in prisons. In 2022, Fernwood Publishing released Dr. Paynter’s first book, Abortion to Abolition: Reproductive Health and Justice in Canada. Her second book, Lawless: Abortion Under Complete Decriminalization, will be released on September 28, 2025. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and participated in 250 news media interviews. She works in close collaboration with community groups and lived experience experts to advocate for abortion access and prisoner rights. In 2017, Dr. Paynter received the sesquicentennial 150th anniversary medal from the Senate of Canada for her volunteer service to the country.
I examine the impact of parental incarceration on children and identify the points in legal system processes where children's rights must be better considered if Canada is to meet its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. From a child's perspective, separation from one's mother is a very significant decision, which requires fair process under s. 7 of the Charter; such decisions must be made in full acknowledgement of the child's rights to health, and to freedom from discrimination. Discriminatory assumptions regarding the maternal value of incarcerated women to their children must be directly rejected in favour of an approach that does not pre-emptively deny children their legal rights to due process.
Speaker:
Prof. Robin Hansen, Associate Professor, College of Law, USask.
Robin F. Hansen is an Associate Professor at the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. An international law specialist, she teaches public international law, conflict of laws and human rights. Her primary research interest is on how legal personhood is constructed within legal systems, and particularly how this construction frames accountability. She is the author of Prison Born: Incarceration and Motherhood in the Colonial Shadow, which examines the rights of newborn children not to be automatically separated from their mothers by the state without due process.
Schedule
| Time | Session | Speaker(s) | Topic |
| 1 pm | Opening Prayers Welcome | Elder Dr. Mansfield Mela | |
| 1:15 pm | Keynote 1 | Dr. Martha Paynter | Reproductive health and the prison systems in Canada |
| 2:00 pm | Keynote 2 | Prof. Robin Hansen | Systemic Discrimination and the Denial of Children's Rights in Incarceration Decisions |
| 2:45 pm | Coffee Break & Infographic Show | ||
| 3:15 pm | Greetings from partners |
University of Saskatchewan Jason Hope, Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada Kim Audtee, Research and Implementation Branch, Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety |
|
| 3:30 pm | Session |
Panel discussion: Dr. Kim Audett, Research and Implementation Branch, Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Kathy Neil, Deputy Commissioner Indigenous Corrections, Correctional Service Canada |
|
| 4 pm | Closing Prayers | ||
Registration
Email us at forensic.centre@usask.ca to register for Public Forum 2025! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.