Media

The last few weeks have been witness to two important moments in the history of women's rights in Canada that are clearly at odds.

Women, Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction in Canada: Response to Out of the Shadows at Last

May 10, 2006 - Women's mental health, mental illness and addictions experts and advocates from across Canada applauded the call for a Mental Health Transition Fund by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, but expressed deep concern over the absence of any gender analysis in the Committee's final report on mental health, mental illness and addiction in Canada, released yesterday.

Don't Swallow EVERYTHING You Hear About Private Clinics and Wait Times

FACT: Waiting for health care services has been and continues to be a major issue for Canadians.

Don't Swallow EVERYTHING You Hear About Women's Health

FACT: Women are prescribed significantly more medications and take more over-the-counter medications than men. Some medications are life-saving treatments for women and girls with serious or chronic health conditions. But some medications may not be necessary or may be inappropriate, and may cause more harm than good.

Profits versus pleasures: New View for women's sexual health at Montreal conference

More than 200 women's health researchers, practitioners and activists from Canada and the US convened in Montreal in July as part of the 2nd New View Campaign Conference to discuss female sexual health.

Haven't we learned our lesson yet? Periods are not a curse

Periods are bad for you, we are told; they involve unnecessary blood loss and iron depletion, and if you are not wanting to get pregnant, who needs them?

The Canadian Women's Health Network wants to hear from you!

Health Canada has recently announced a plan to review the current Women's Health Strategy, and more importantly, to develop a renewed action plan. This is great news. In preparation for this review, the CWHN will be undertaking an informal outreach and consultation project in the coming months. The results of this work will be compiled into a report to be presented to the Federal government.

Women's Health in Canada: Beijing and Beyond

This document was prepared as a Health Section for Canada’s “NGO” report to the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women’s meeting in March 2005. It seeks to determine the progress that the Canadian government has made in advancing women’s health since Canada adopted in 1995 the United Nations Platform for Action, developed in Beijing at the United Nations World Conference on Women.

Women's health champion awarded Honorary Doctorate

Please join us in congratulating Madeline Boscoe, the Executive Director for the Canadian Women's Health Network, and the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for the Women's Health Clinic, Winnipeg, who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Ottawa on June 5, 2005.

"Julie's Story" (Xenical)

Many of you have likely seen the advertisements - in bus shelters, on billboards, on television and in newspapers across the country - showing already slender women wishing they were thinner so that they could wear their bikinis, or strip tease for their husband, or wear that little black dress - if only they could lose a few pounds!

Emergency Contraception

TORONTO, April 20 /CNW/ - In a progressive move, Health Canada today confirmed that Plan B, a safe and effective "morning after pill" has officially been approved for use without a prescription in Canada, a decision that is supported by 70 per cent of Canadians and every leading medical organization in the country.

First National Women's Health Roundtable and Reception on the Hill

On February 22, 2005, parliamentarians and women's health experts gathered "on the Hill"; for the First National Women's Health Roundtable and Reception. Hosted by the Canadian Women's Health Network (CWHN), this event recognized the contributions that parliamentarians make to their communities and our country as "health ambassadors."

Policy Briefs:

The Women's Health Movement in Canada: Looking Back and Moving Forward

An article published in the Summer 2004 issue of Canadian Woman Studies.

Depo-Provera

This week, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer issued letters in both Canada and the United States warning about a serious health risk to women who use their long-acting, injectable contraceptive drug, Depo-Provera.

Diane-35 Drug Ads

Diane-35 increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (potentially fatal blood clots) as compared to other similar hormone combinations. There are at least six reported deaths in Canada of young women for which Diane-35 was the suspected cause.

Breast implant registry

OTTAWA - New Democrat MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis today introduced a Private Member's Bill to establish a national breast implant registry to monitor implant procedures and further scientific research.

Assisted Human Reproduction

In March 2004, the Senate approved Bill C-6, An Act respecting assisted human reproduction and related research, and officially became law on March 27, 2004 as it received royal assent. This legislation has been long awaited and is urgently required as it is an important component in what should be a comprehensive strategy for optimal sexual and reproductive health of all Canadians.