Assembly of First Nations Responds to CEDAW Report Stating Canada has Committed “Grave Violation” of Rights of Indigenous Women, Continues Push for National Inquiry and Immediate Action

Assembly of First Nations Responds to CEDAW Report Stating Canada has Committed
“Grave Violation” of Rights of Indigenous Women, Continues
Push for National Inquiry and Immediate Action

March 9, 2015

(Ottawa, ON) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde says the finding by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that Canada has committed a “grave violation” of the human rights of Indigenous women cannot be ignored.  National Chief Bellegarde repeated the call for a National Public Inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and coordinated action to achieve safety and security.

“Canada’s inaction in regard to missing and murdered Indigenous women is getting increasing international attention, and this latest from CEDAW calling it a ‘grave violation of human rights’ cannot be ignored,” said AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde.  “The loss of almost 1200 Indigenous women and girls is not an Indigenous issue, it’s a Canadian issue.  We continue to push for a national inquiry that would identify the root causes of violence, and for coordinated action across all jurisdictions to prevent and address violence against our sisters, mothers and daughters.”

The report released by CEDAW March 6 in advance of International Women’s Day says the Canadian police and justice system have failed to effectively protect Indigenous women, hold offenders to account and ensure victims get redress.  The report notes that by failing to promptly and thoroughly investigate the high levels of violence suffered by Indigenous women, including disappearances and murders, Canada has committed a “grave violation” of rights under the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

CEDAW makes 38 recommendations for action, including the establishment of an independent national inquiry and an action plan – something that First Nations and many families of missing and murdered women and girls have urged for years.  This is consistent with the findings and recommendations of other international human rights bodies, such as the January 2015 report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights as well as a recent Angus Reid poll that found three-quarters of Canadians support an Inquiry.

Just one week ago on February 27 families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, Indigenous leaders, Premiers and federal and provincial ministers gathered for the first ever national roundtable on the issue.  Delegates agreed to meet in again in 2016 to discuss progress in the areas of prevention and awareness, community safety, policing measures and justice responses.

“The National Roundtable was an important step in the right direction, however there must be action to address longstanding socio-economic inequalities as well as changes in the justice system before Canada can be said to be respecting the fundamental right to life and security of every Indigenous woman and girl so they can live free from discrimination,” said National Chief Bellegarde.

For more information on the recent National Roundtable on murdered and missing Indigenous women, work toward an action plan to end violence and support for a National Public Inquiry please visit:  http://www.afn.ca/index.php/en/policy-areas/i-pledge.-end-violence.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.  Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

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Contact information:

Jenna Young Castro AFN Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 401; 613-314-8157 or jyoung@afn.ca

Alain Garon AFN Bilingual Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 382; 613-292-0857 or agaron@afn.ca