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BC Civil Liberties Association 2023 Annual Report

Throughout 2023, the BCCLA persisted in our fight to uphold freedom and justice across Canada, sharpening our focus on the inextricable connection between civil liberties and human rights. The BCCLA’s 2023 Annual Report shares highlights of our legislative, legal, and advocacy work, and the victories our supporters helped make possible.


In the face of tragedy, crisis, and chaos, the BCCLA has organized to demand government accountability – from evidence-based harm reduction policy to address the toxic drug crisis, to human rights-based approaches to encampments. 

– Liza Hughes, Executive Director

Picture of Liza Hughes, Executive Director


2023 Highlights

2023 was a remarkable year for the BCCLA. In our long history, we have won many important victories, and in 2023 we achieved major wins and saw growth in all areas of our work. 

22 policy submissions, open letters, and testimonies to various levels of government 
22 active court cases and interventions
2,343 hours of pro-bono work contributed from 49 lawyers 
5,578 people accessed the updated Arrest Handbook in its first 2 months 
2,688 total media stories 
102,438  website page views

View the full report

Illustrations by Miranda Maslany

CIVIL LIBERTIES CAN’T PROTECT THEMSELVES