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More action demanded for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls
Seven years after the release of a national report on the matter, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples renews their request for support
Following the seventh anniversary of the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the Congress of Aboriginal People has renewed its call for immediate action to be taken to implement the 231 Calls for Justice and address the ongoing crisis facing Indigenous Women, Girls, and LGBT People across Canada.
The Inquiry helped to reveal the full scope of the impacts that colonial policies have had on Indigenous communities across Canada, as well as the discrimination that has been suffered by Indigenous women, girls, and LGBT people.
The report identified this violence as a form of genocide rooted in historic and ongoing injustices, including the legacy of residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, displacement, poverty, and poor access to services and protection.
Brendan Moore, the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, said that Indigenous families are still waiting for proper action to be taken, and that many promises have yet to be fulfilled.
“The Calls for Justice were never intended to sit on a shelf. They were designed to save lives, strengthen communities, and ensure Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People can live in safety and dignity.”
The CAP has once again urged federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work towards fulfilling the Calls for Justice, with several requests of particular interest.
1.6: Eliminate jurisdictional barriers that prevent Indigenous Peoples from accessing essential services and supports.
1.7: Establish a National Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and Tribunal to address complaints and monitor accountability.
4.1 and 4.6: Expand access to safe, affordable, accessible, and culturally relevant housing in urban, rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.
12.4: End the practice of apprehending Indigenous children solely on the basis of poverty or inadequate housing.
7.2: Ensure equitable access to education that reflects Indigenous histories, cultures, and perspectives and addresses systemic discrimination.
13.1: Address the economic and social inequalities that contribute to violence, including barriers to employment, income security, and education.
15.1: Ensure full implementation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples as affirmed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
