Justice for our stolen sisters is long overdue. We will remain central to
this process every step of the way. — Dr. Lavell-Harvard, Native Women’s Association of Canada
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), an umbrella organization that represents provincial public sector unions across the country, including the MGEU, welcomes the federal government’s announcement that it’s proceeding with a national inquiry into the tragically high number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
Minister for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Status of Women Pattyy Hajdu and Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould confirmed recently that the national inquiry will be launched following a thorough, respectful consultation process with survivors and families directly impacted by these tragedies.
The ministers also confirmed that organizations such as the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), expert researchers and grassroots Indigenous organizations will be involved.
“NUPGE has been an ally of NWAC and has been supporting the call for the inquiry for some time,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. “One only has to look at the alarming statistics to see an immediate need for action.”
Sixteen per cent of all women murdered in Canada between 1980 and 2012 were Indigenous. Indigenous women are three times more likely to report experiencing violence. The RCMP released a report a year ago that found 1,181 Indigenous women and girls were killed or went missing between 1980 and 2012.
A call for a national inquiry began in the early 1990s. Since then, numerous international bodies, including the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women have called on Canada to take action on this issue.