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Press Release

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Presents an Opportunity for Positive Change

Ottawa, ON (November 25, 2009) – Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), called today for an end to violence against all women in Canada. November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

“Violence against women has the ability to destroy families, communities, and nations. Today is the 10th anniversary since the United Nations commemorated the observation of the day, reaffirming the importance of eliminating violence once and for all,” stated President Corbiere Lavell.

“The number of missing and murdered First Nations, Métis and Inuit women in Canada is extremely high,” added President Corbiere Lavell. “This reality is documented in NWAC’s report, Voices of Our Sisters In Spirit: A Research and Policy Report to Families and Communities, which was released one year ago today. This report highlighted that 497 Aboriginal women and girls had been murdered or disappeared over the last thirty years. An updated report in March 2009 revealed an even higher number at 520.”

“Sisters In Spirit is the only research initiative in Canada on the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Our Voices report provides important policy recommendations that present an opportunity for positive change for increased safety in the lives of our mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunties,” remarked President Corbiere Lavell. “As Sisters In Spirit looks to continue improving the situation of Aboriginal women and addressing the violence they face, it is my hope that the Government of Canada will continue to partner with the Native Women’s Association of Canada in this important work.”

November 25 is also the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, an international campaign which runs until December 10, International Human Rights Day. These two important dates symbolically link violence against started this important campaign. I also acknowledge Amnesty International Canada, a long time supporter of NWAC, who is organizing activities across the country as part of their Wake women as a grave abuse of human rights.

“I thank the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, who started this important campaign. I also acknowledge Amnesty International Canada, a long time supporter of NWAC, who is organizing activities across the country as part of their Wake Up Call to Canada campaign to work at stopping violence against all women.” President Corbiere Lavell concluded, “Today and every day, I encourage men and women of all ages to reflect on the importance of protecting and honouring Aboriginal women and girls.”

Information about 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence can be found at the following website: http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/home.html. Information about Wake Up Call to Canada can be found at the following website: http://www.amnesty.ca/wakeupcanada

The Native Women’s Association of Canada is founded on the collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of Aboriginal women within the Aboriginal community and Canadian society. In 2009, as we celebrate our 35th year of service, we are proud to continue to speak as a voice for Aboriginal women.

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For more information contact:

Joshua Kirkey, Communications Advisor
Native Women’s Association of Canada
(613) 722-3033 ext. 231, mobile (613) 290-5680
jkirkey[at]nwac-hq.org

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Press Release

NUPGE joining Amnesty International's "A Wake Up Call to Canada"

NUPGE is encouraging all Canadians to sign onlinie message to Prime Minister Harper asking him to establish a national plan of action to stop violence against Indigenous Women.

Ottawa (24 Nov. 2009) - On November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is encouraging Canadians to join Amnesty International members around the world to start their day by signing an online message to Prime Minister Harper asking him to establish a national plan of action to stop violence against Indigenous women.

For the last five years, organizations such as Amnesty International, the Native Association of Canada, NUPGE and other social justice groups have worked to raise awareness of the extremely high levels of violence faced by Aboriginal women in Canada. It is estimated that approximately 500 Aboriginal women and girls have gone missing in the last 20 years. This estimate is supported by 1996 government statistics showing that Aboriginal women were five times more likely to die as a result of violence than any other group of Canadian women.

Canada is supposed to report back to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women this month on steps taken to address the high levels of violence endured by Aborginal women in Canada. The recommendation from CEDAW is an example of the growing pressure on Canada to address this issue.

On November 25, people from around the world are being asked to start their day by signing an online message to the Prime Minister. The web action will keep track of the numbers, what part of the world the messages are coming from, and comments that people make. The action will then be continued through the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

Take Action

Send a Wake Up Call to Prime Minister Harper using the text below and add your own message:

Subject line: It’s time for Canada to stop violence against Indigenous women.

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

The scale of violence faced by Indigenous women in Canada requires a comprehensive and coordinated response.

I welcome the recent commitment by Canadian officials to develop a national plan of action to ensure Indigenous women’s safety, economic security and well-being.

I urge your government to work with Indigenous women to develop a comprehensive strategy to:

• Ensure Indigenous women’s access to justice, including effective and unbiased police response to all cases of missing and murdered women;
• Improve public awareness and accountability through the consistent collection and publication of comprehensive national statistics on rates of violent crime against Indigenous women;
• Eliminate discrimination in funding of government services for Indigenous women and families; and,
• Address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, including closing the economic gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Email: Harper.S@parl.gc.ca. or pm@pm.gc.ca.

NUPGE and the Sisters in Spirit Initiative

The Sisters in Spirit Initiative is a multi-year research, education and policy initiative designed to investigate the disproportionately high number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls in Canada.

NUPGE has supported this initiative with funding through its "Global Women’s Projects".