The federal election campaign has had many twists and turns, perhaps none more disappointing than the focus on the wearing of niqab for part of the citizenship ceremony.
Today I stand with more than 500 prominent women from across the country and from every field – political, religious, legal, business, arts and civil society – to say very loudly and clearly that women can speak for themselves, and can identify the issues that we feel are the ones that should be focused on in Canada.
The wearing of niqab at citizenship ceremonies has not been on the agenda of women advocating for change in this country. The issues we have identified are things like: women’s disproportionate rates of poverty; violence against women especially Indigenous women; childcare issues; the economy and job security as we age.
Today, we are urging leaders to respect women’s rights to equality, free expression and freedom of religion. And please, discuss and debate WITH US, not FOR US.
For more on the RespectWomen statement go to: www.respecthewomen.ca
Sincerely,
Leilani Farha
Executive Director, Canada Without Poverty
Ottawa, October 15th, 2015
More than 500 women leaders call for understanding and respect for rights in niqab debate
On the eve of Canada’s federal election, a group of Canada’s most powerful women have issued an urgent call for respect for human rights in the midst of the divisive debate over the wearing of the niqab.
The more than 500 women from across Canada include leaders in law, politics, arts, civil society, Indigenous women’s organizations, religion, academia, business, and labour. They believe fundamental rights are at stake and call on political leaders to promote and uphold freedom of religion, freedom of expression and the rights of women.
“We believe that freedom of religion and freedom of expression include the freedom to dress in accordance with an individual’s religious views or personal preferences,” emphasized Louise Arbour, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and a former Supreme Court of Canada Justice. “And we believe that the path to equality lies in embracing and understanding difference, not in stereotyping and marginalizing women of any faith or any religious practice.”
The women who have endorsed thestatement are especially concerned that amidst the polarizing debate about the niqab, there have been a number of recent incidents of discrimination and violence against Muslim women.
“It troubles us that the current focus on the few instances of women wanting to wear a niqab during their citizenship ceremony has stigmatized Muslim women,” stated film director and actor Sarah Polley. “We are alarmed that this appears to have incited discrimination, and even violence.”
The statement expresses particular concern that the debate about the niqab has distracted attention from the serious human rights issues that impact the lives of millions of women and girls across the country.
“It is time to set aside debate over what a very few women choose to wear in a public place, stressed Dawn Memee Harvard, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. “Violence against women, particularly Indigenous women and girls, economic insecurity faced by women as they age, unequal pay for equivalent work, and inadequate investment in women’s empowerment and leadership impact the daily lives of women far more.”
Finally, the women who have endorsed the statement are deeply disappointed that the debate about the niqab has largely ignored the perspective and views of women who wear it.
“Their voices have been marginalized and ignored in the current debate,” highlighted the Right Rev. Jordan Cantwell, Moderator of The United Church of Canada. “We want to see a commitment to discussing the niqab and to promoting equality more generally which is grounded in talking with women, not for women.”
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