NWAC honours women, girls

The Native Women’s Association of Canada honoured women and girls on Dec. 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
“The nation was profoundly affected by the senseless violence against these 14 women and we are proud to honour them this Monday,” said Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, NWAC’s president.
While NWAC honoured the 14 women murdered 21 years ago at the l’École Polytechnique de Montréal, the group also noted that Aboriginal women are three-and-a-half times more likely to experience violence and eight times more likely to be victims of spousal homicide than non-Aboriginal women. Aboriginal women are also the most at-risk group in Canada for issues related to violence, and complex issues linked to intergenerational impacts of colonization and residential schools.
“The Assembly of First Nations is committed to working together with the federal, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous and women’s groups and organizations to develop a national action plan, focused on prevention, to end violence against all women in Canada,” said AFN National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo.
“Ensuring collaboration with First Nations and the victims of violence must be a priority for the federal government and all Canadians.
“This includes ensuring support for initiatives that work for our people, like Sisters in Spirit and other community-based efforts.”
AFN continues to advocate strongly for action that will ensure the safety of Indigenous women across Canada and support for the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women. In October, AFN joined the call by the Native Women’s Association of Canada for all levels of government to engage Indigenous and women’s groups on the development of a national action plan that would both support families of victims and address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women.
As of Dec. 6, there were about 600 missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls in Canada.
“There are now almost 600 unresolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in this country,” said AFN Women’s Council chairwoman Kathleen McHugh. “We will be persistent in our work to examine the root causes that put too many Indigenous women in vulnerable situations and to ensure government support for the initiatives and programs focused on public awareness and prevention.”
Minister for Status of Women Rona Ambrose said ending violence against women should be the shared responsibility of all Canadians: government, citizens, police, the justice system, media, non-profit groups, the private sector and community organizations.
“The call to action must extend to men and boys, along with women and girls, if we are to achieve progress and lasting change,” Ambrose said in a Dec. 6 statement. “Men have the opportunity to be leaders in their communities and speak out against acts of violence that we find intolerable in Canada.”
Ambrose said Status of Women Canada has invested more than $30 million for projects to end violence against women and girls in communities across the country since 2007.
“We have increased penalties for violent crimes and introduced legislation that would increase penalties for the sexual abuse of children, ended house arrest for violent crimes, and taken action against human trafficking that results in the exploitation of women,” Ambrose said.
“We recently announced a strategy to address the alarming rate of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. The initiative will improve tools for law enforcement, enhance victims’ services and provide support for community-based public safety and awareness efforts.”