Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Research
Research into Intimate Partner Violence
Western researchers examine early warning signs of intimate partner violence and its societal impacts. Studies highlight psychological predictors and systemic barriers to justice. International fieldwork, including research on gender-based violence in India, deepens understanding of protest movements and survivor advocacy. These efforts inform policy, raise awareness, and support evidence-based interventions to reduce violence and promote human rights.
HIV Legal Network
Through the Summer After 1L (SA1L) program, Western Law students gain hands-on experience addressing health equity and justice. At the HIV Legal Network, students contribute to legal research on treatment access, prison health care, and harm reduction. Projects include UN submissions and advocacy for marginalized populations, advancing human rights through legal analysis, public education, and community engagement.Hate Crimes Case Law
prosecutors, and defence lawyers. It enhances access to justice, informs legal training, and equips students with practical skills to address bias-motivated violence through evidence-based legal strategies.Teaching
Master of Studies in Law
Western’s Master of Studies in Law program equips professionals and academics with legal literacy to enhance their work in fields intersecting with justice, governance, and policy. Through interdisciplinary teaching and project-based learning, students critically examine legal frameworks and societal impacts. The program strengthens civic understanding and prepares graduates to engage with legal dimensions of public service, advocacy, and institutional accountability.
Community Legal Services
Western Law’s Community Legal Services program immerses students in real-world legal practice, serving low-income clients under lawyer supervision. Through intake interviews, court appearances, and public legal education projects, students develop advocacy, ethics, and procedural skills. The program strengthens access to justice while preparing future lawyers to address systemic inequities through experiential learning and community engagement.
John & Dotsa Bitove Family Law Library
Western’s Law Library plays a vital role in advancing legal education and civic understanding. It offers students and faculty access to comprehensive legal databases, case law collections, and scholarly resources essential for exploring justice systems and human rights. Integrated into coursework and clinical programs, the library supports ethical research practices and critical analysis. Librarians provide expert guidance on legal information literacy, helping students navigate complex legal frameworks and develop skills for responsible advocacy and public service.
Outreach
2024 G20 Youth Summit
Western alumni joined Canada’s delegation to the G20 Youth Summit, contributing to global policy discussions on governance, inclusion, and sustainable development. Through months of consultation and collaboration, they helped shape a youth communique for world leaders. Their roles in diplomacy, public health, and innovation reflect Western’s commitment to civic engagement and international cooperation. The summit amplifies youth voices, builds global networks, and promotes dialogue on justice, equity, and responsive policymaking.
20 Days in Mariupol: Film Screening
Western’s screening of 20 Days in Mariupol invites public reflection on war, media, and human rights. Through powerful frontline footage and storytelling, the event raises awareness of civilian experiences and journalistic integrity. It encourages dialogue on global conflict and justice, connecting campus and community audiences to pressing issues of violence, accountability, and international solidarity.
Meditations on the Dead, the Dying and the Displaced
This workshop critically examines global anti-Blackness and white supremacy as foundational forces shaping African governance, conflict, and humanitarian crises. By challenging dominant narratives in Western media and scholarship, it amplifies marginalized perspectives and encourages public dialogue on justice, sovereignty, and resistance. It engages students, scholars, and community members in confronting structural violence and rethinking international relations through a lens of historical accountability and ethical global engagement.
Operations
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Western operationalizes commitments to justice and accountability through its observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The university suspends classes to prioritize Indigenous-informed learning and reflection. Events led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives include flag-raising ceremonies, cultural workshops, and sacred fires, engaging both campus and local communities. These practices create institutional space for dialogue, recognition, and healing, while reinforcing respectful relationships and systemic responsiveness to historical and ongoing injustices.
Dispute Resolution Centre
The Dispute Resolution Centre at Western Law enhances access to justice by offering free, confidential mediation and conflict resolution training to residents of London and Middlesex County. Operated by law students under professional supervision, it provides timely, voluntary alternatives to litigation. Through one-on-one coaching and tailored workshops, the Centre equips individuals and organizations with practical skills to manage disputes constructively. This community-based model promotes fairness, dialogue, and peaceful resolution, contributing to a more inclusive and responsive legal environment.
Advancing Inclusive Excellence
Western’s EDIDA Strategic Plan operationalizes inclusive governance by embedding equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and accessibility into institutional structures. Each faculty and unit is tasked with identifying priority areas for change, supported by tools and timelines for implementation. The plan’s consultative development and accountability mechanisms ensure diverse voices shape decision-making. Through coordinated action planning and leadership engagement, Western builds transparent systems that uphold fairness, respect, and institutional responsibility across campus.
