Actions with High Social Impact CONTROVERSY BELIEF AND

Actions with High Social Impact CONTROVERSY, BELIEF AND RESPONSIBILITY

What do you think “Actions with High Social Impact could be? ”

Answers! Actions with a High Social Impact tend to be: • Abortion • Weapons • Prostitution • Obscenity

Abortion An abortion is the intentional premature ending of a pregnancy Legal Timeline: 1869: - Abortion is banned 1967: - Pierre Trudeau (Justice Minister) introduced bill to liberalize Canada’s abortion laws 1969: - Abortion permitted under certain circumstances, with the permission of therapeutic abortion committee if pregnancy endangered woman’s health or life 1988: -Supreme Court ruled abortion law unconstitutional

Why the Change in 1988? Case: R. v. Morgentaler • Read through R. v. Morgentaler • Start answering Questions 1 -5 (For Homework) if you finish before rest of class

Other High Impact Crimes: Obscenity Definition: Words, images or actions that go against moral values Moral Values determined by “community standards test” which can be ambiguous Can include verbal language, print images, video, or any other materials Officials must prove act/material is obscene for it to be confiscated/charges to be laid “Degrading or Dehumanizing” sexual acts, or portrayal of sexual acts

Other High Impact Crimes: Child Pornography Sentencing Anyone who possesses, produces, distributes or sells child pornography is guilty Possessing: 14 days – 5 years in prison Online communication = change in laws Illegal to access child pornography online and to communicate with children for sexual purposes Producing or Distributing: Up to 10 years

Question and Answer Period! 1. How has the legality of abortion changed through Canadian history, and what enabled that change to take place? 2. What problems might arise from Obscenity laws over time? 3. How has the legal system adapted to changing technology in regards to child pornography? What problems will victims and authorities continue to have because of the internet?