For Immediate Release National/Regional/Local
January 12, 2015 – [Ottawa] Canada’s Indigenous woman are four times more likely to be murdered or go missing than the average Canadian woman, and yet governments at all levels continue to wait for this issue to solve itself. These human rights abuses can no longer be ignored.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights today released Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in British Columbia another startling report highlighting the grave human rights violations experienced by Indigenous women in Canada. The report highlights Canada’s utter failure to abide by its human rights obligations, both in respect to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international human rights law, and the country’s inability to ensure that Indigenous women in Canada are free from discrimination, inequality and violence.
The Commission is unequivocal about the direct connection between poverty, inequality and violence. The report urges all levels of government to address the root causes of violence experienced by Indigenous women: poverty, inadequate housing and other socio-economic disadvantages.
“These levels of violence are unacceptable in any territory. In a country as wealthy as Canada, which has historically bragged about its dedication to equality and other human rights, this report highlights the disgraceful state of our commitment to human rights law,” says Leilani Farha, Executive Director of Canada Without Poverty and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing. “Canada is legally obligated under domestic and international human rights law to ensure that ALL people in Canada are free from discrimination and violence. When 4.3% of Canada’s population lives in fear of violence because they are a member of a particular group, every level of government must step up and take immediate and effective action.”
The Commission and civil society organizations have all called for a national, comprehensive, holistic strategy that addresses violence against Indigenous women. It is clear that immediate action is needed to address this complex and pressing issue. This strategy must address past and present inequality and ensuring that Indigenous women can fully exercise economic, social and cultural rights.
There is no doubt that Canada has obligations under domestic and international human rights law to ensure that all people in Canada are free from discrimination, inequality and violence. The Inter-America Commission has asked for action. It’s time for all levels of government to fulfill their obligations to all of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and their families.
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Media Contact: Graham Milner, Canada without Poverty, 613-986-7761, [email protected]
Canada Without Poverty is a federally incorporated, non-partisan, not-for-profit and charitable organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty in Canada.
