women's human rights: Canada & the world

Retract Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals from Convicted Anti-abortion
Criminals

Petition published by Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada / Coalition pour
le droit à l’avortement au Canada on Oct 28, 2012

Target: Governor General David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Petition Background (Preamble):
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals were awarded in October to two convicted
criminals. Conservative Member of Parliament Maurice Vellacott selected
Linda Gibbons and Mary Wagner to receive medals. Both women are anti-choice
protesters who repeatedly and deliberately violate Ontario court injunctions
that ban protesters from harassing women as they enter an abortion clinic.
Wagner has illegally invaded clinics, frightening patients and staff and
obstructing clinic operations. Both women have been in and out of jail for
years, showing no respect for the rule of law or the rights of others.

Petition:
Whereas the awarding of Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals to two convicted
criminals is a profound embarrassment to the Governor General’s office and
to the government of Canada, and puts an ugly stain on the entire Jubilee
medal program, devaluing and tainting all the other medals.

Whereas it is completely unacceptable to award medals to two criminals who
have not been pardoned or vindicated, who continually reoffend, and who show
no remorse for their crimes.

Whereas the protesters’ illegal actions inflict harm on women patients and
staff at clinics, as evidenced by court cases in Ontario and BC that found
that protesters outside clinics violate the privacy and dignity of patients,
and put the health and safety of patients and staff at risk. (Ontario
Attorney General v. Dieleman 1994, and R.v. Lewis 1996)

Whereas there is a compelling need to protect women’s rights and health, and
to right the wrong decision to award these medals to convicted criminals.

We ask you to intervene immediately to retract the two medals awarded to
Linda Gibbons and Mary Wagner.