Murdered and Missing Women Honoured and Remembered
On June 21, 2008, Walk4Justice co-founders Gladys Radek and Bernie Williams, joined by a dedicated group of walkers, began their first walk to Ottawa. Walk4Justice arrived in Ottawa on September 15, 2008 and with family members of murdered and missing women, community activists and community leadership marched to the steps of Parliament. They presented documentation of over 3000 missing and murdered women and a petition signed by 2900 people calling for inquiries into these cases to MP Libby Davies and MP Jean Crowder. Walk4Justice walked again to maintain awareness of murdered and missing women in 2009 and 2010. Walk4Justice will begin their walk once more today on National Aboriginal Day on June 21, 2011.
"When we walk, we meet many families who lost a daughter, a mother, a sister. We share their grief and smiles as they each recount story after story of how much they miss their loved ones," said Gladys Radek. "What is most disturbing is how many people tell us how difficult it is to convince police that their case is not about a runaway who will turn up soon in another city but an urgent case about a missing person who could not come home. We are walking for our elders, our youth and children yet to come."
Bernie Williams stated, "It is a hard journey every time we walk. But we know, deep in our hearts, we need to honour the many beautiful women who have yet to make it home or will never be able to come home. We walk because we want accountability and justice."
Sue, one of this year's walkers, observed, "There needs to be reform of the judicial system, law enforcement practices and all levels of government and leadership must work together so we may move forward into a society free of systemic neglect and discrimination."
"When a government is so quick to respond to a hockey riot with an independent inquiry or so quick to form a task force into the deaths of sled dogs and yet need to be publicly shamed into calling an inquiry into murdered and missing women, it is clear we need a national public inquiry to address the whole of the problem. We need to address the racism, poverty, homelessness and domestic violence epidemics in this country," said Bernie Williams.
On behalf of the Walk4Justice families we would like to thank all our volunteers and sponsors for their participation, donations and genuine care for all of us as we walk to honour our beautiful women, children and men.
Contact information:
Gladys Radek, (604) 569-5989 or frillyfrog08@yahoo.ca
Bernie Williams (604) 568-8701 or skundaal@yahoo.ca
For more information about the Walk4Justice, 2011 route plans, photos and how to donate go to: http://fnbc.info/walk4justice
Signing the Joint Declaration
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
We Inivte Individuals and Organizations to sign on!
Read the Declaration, and sign on - men and women, large groups and small groups. If you agree - send us your name, and City, in the comments section below, or send it to us by e mail (ncwc@magma.ca) and we will keep track of all names and organizations and add to the signatories of the Joint Declaration.
Recent Signatures
The Business and Professional Women have signed on in support of the Joint Declaration. (June 8th, 2011)
The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) have signed on in support of the Joint Declaration. (June 8th, 2011)
The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) have signed on in support of the Joint Declaration. (June 8th, 2011)
Background of NCWC Policy
Background of NCWC Policy
Since 1997 the National Council of Women of Canada has adopted as policy and has urged the Government of Canada to
- Work with provincial and territorial governments and with aboriginal organizations and governing bodies to develop and fund more safe houses/shelters, on and off reserve, including programs and services that respect aboriginal culture and traditions, for aboriginal women and their children who are victims of family violence. Engage stakeholders to successfully address the underlying issues contributing to the high rate of family violence within the Aboriginal community, and to increase the capacity of Aboriginal women to break the cycle of family violence;
- Collaborate with Provincial and Territorial governments and with aboriginal organizations and governing bodies, and to consult with civil society to develop anti-poverty legislation that includes a strategy to eliminate poverty by addressing the systemic barriers to full social participation by all Canadians and which contains accountability measures for government, in support of the UN Millennium Goals;
- Provide more effective prenatal care for aboriginal women, as they are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, so that their children are less likely to be born HIV+;
- Study the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and undertake appropriate action using a conciliatory process to create a new and better relationship between the Government of Canada and Aboriginal Peoples;
- Remove section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act[1] as quickly as possible and to draft an Aboriginal Human Rights Code in consultation with First Nations governments in compliance with the UN Human Rights Conventions;
- Sign[2] and Ratify the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
- Establish a national comprehensive child care policy designed to facilitate the development of child care services and resources which would, inter alia, be sensitive to the particular cultural requirements of aboriginal and immigrant families;
- Enter into partnership with Aboriginal communities and organizations to review and identify barriers to the use of Section 81 and 84 of the Correctional and Conditional Release Act[3], and create and implement an action plan to encourage its use for Federally Sentenced Aboriginal Women. This partnership should include financial resources for those communities wishing to undertake the responsibility of assisting in the reintegration of Aboriginal women offenders; and Ensure that Federally Sentenced Aboriginal Women are fully aware of Sections 81 and 84 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and encouraged to apply under these sections;
[1] This section was repealed in June 2008: http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/LegislativeSummaries/bills_ls.asp?lang=E&ls=c21&Parl=39&Ses=2&source=library_prb
[2] Canada has signed on as of November 2010 but has yet to ratify the declaration through domestic legislation or enforcement.
[3] The sections on 'Aboriginal Offenders' are below and the Act can be found at: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/sc-1992-c-20/latest/sc-1992-c-20.html
79. In sections 80 to 84,
“aboriginal”
« autochtone »
“aboriginal” means Indian, Inuit or Métis;
“aboriginal community”
« collectivité autochtone »
“aboriginal community” means a first nation, tribal council, band, community, organization or other group with a predominantly aboriginal leadership;
“correctional services”
« services correctionnels »
“correctional services” means services or programs for offenders, including their care and custody.
Programs
80. Without limiting the generality of section 76, the Service shall provide programs designed particularly to address the needs of aboriginal offenders.
Agreements
81. (1) The Minister, or a person authorized by the Minister, may enter into an agreement with an aboriginal community for the provision of correctional services to aboriginal offenders and for payment by the Minister, or by a person authorized by the Minister, in respect of the provision of those services.
Scope of agreement
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), an agreement entered into under that subsection may provide for the provision of correctional services to a non-aboriginal offender.
Placement of offender
(3) In accordance with any agreement entered into under subsection (1), the Commissioner may transfer an offender to the care and custody of an aboriginal community, with the consent of the offender and of the aboriginal community.
1992, c. 20, s. 81; 1995, c. 42, s. 21(F).
Advisory committees
82. (1) The Service shall establish a National Aboriginal Advisory Committee, and may establish regional and local aboriginal advisory committees, which shall provide advice to the Service on the provision of correctional services to aboriginal offenders.
Committees to consult
(2) For the purpose of carrying out their function under subsection (1), all committees shall consult regularly with aboriginal communities and other appropriate persons with knowledge of aboriginal matters.
Spiritual leaders and elders
83. (1) For greater certainty, aboriginal spirituality and aboriginal spiritual leaders and elders have the same status as other religions and other religious leaders.
Idem
(2) The Service shall take all reasonable steps to make available to aboriginal inmates the services of an aboriginal spiritual leader or elder after consultation with
(a) the National Aboriginal Advisory Committee mentioned in section 82; and
(b) the appropriate regional and local aboriginal advisory committees, if such committees have been established pursuant to that section.
Parole plans
84. Where an inmate who is applying for parole has expressed an interest in being released to an aboriginal community, the Service shall, if the inmate consents, give the aboriginal community
(a) adequate notice of the inmate’s parole application; and
(b) an opportunity to propose a plan for the inmate’s release to, and integration into, the aboriginal community.
Plans with respect to long-term supervision
84.1 Where an offender who is required to be supervised by a long-term supervision order has expressed an interest in being supervised in an aboriginal community, the Service shall, if the offender consents, give the aboriginal community
(a) adequate notice of the order; and
(b) an opportunity to propose a plan for the offender’s release on supervision, and integration, into the aboriginal community.
1997, c. 17, s. 15.
Contents of the Joint Declaration - signed June 4th, 2011
JOINT DECLARATION
PREAMBLE
"The National Council of Women of Canada (The “NCWC”) is a member of the International Council of Women, accredited with the United Nations' Economic and Social Council's Commission on the Status of Women. NCWC is linked with seventy-seven Councils and member groups in Canada and is committed to improving the well-being of women, families and communities.”
WHEREAS Individuals in attendance at NCWC’s 118th Annual Meeting held in Winnipeg, June 2nd to June 4th (The “Delegates”) bear witness to the critical, tragic and inequitable issue of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls in Manitoba, and across Canada; and
WHEREAS Delegates unequivocally affirm their commitment to actively working together towards complete protection of, respect for and fulfilment of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples’ human rights; acceptance and affirmation of their cultural identity; and their declared Right of Self-Determination; and
WHEREAS Delegates are committed to encouraging the Government of Canada to implement a National Task Force leading to federal legislation that prevents further missing and murdered women/girls, and that addresses the systemic and inequitable access for culturally appropriate services at the community level and enacts a paradigm shift in how policies are designed that govern such programs and services;
THEREFORE, Delegates affirm, assert and recognize Inherent and Treaty Rights of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada and seek to support the full and equitable participation of Aboriginal Peoples, in particular Aboriginal women and girls, within Canadian society intrinsically addressing the systemic issues of violence against Aboriginal women and girls and eradicating social, cultural, economic and spiritual inequalities encountered by Aboriginal women and girls in Canada;
AND, FURTHER, Delegates support the second annual “Walk for Justice” for murdered and missing women starting June 21, 2011, and encourage others to support the walk as it moves across Canada.
WHEREAS In November 2008, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) reviewed Canada’s compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and issued its Concluding Observations in Geneva where the Committee asked Canada to report back in one year on steps taken to address inadequate social assistance rates across the country and the failure of law enforcement agencies to deal with the disappearance and murder of Aboriginal women and girls; and
WHEREAS In February 2009 Canada was told by the UN Human Rights Council it is not doing enough in areas such as aboriginal rights, violence against women, poverty and racism; and
WHEREAS CEDAW recommended Canada develop a specific and integrated plan for addressing the particular conditions affecting Aboriginal women, both on and off reserves, including poverty, poor health, inadequate housing, low school-completion rates, low employment rates, low income and high rates of violence; and
WHEREAS NCWC continues to urge the Government of Canada to develop, fund and implement an integrated plan, in collaboration with the NWAC, to address the systemic conditions affecting Aboriginal women, specifically insufficient services and resources, and to continue collaboration and partnership with Aboriginal communities in addressing systemic issues of violence against women and children; and
WHEREAS NCWC in solidarity with the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) continues to urge the Government of Canada to engage in open and meaningful dialogue with NWAC, in reporting back to CEDAW, with particular attention to addressing the disappearance and murder of Aboriginal women and girls.
THEREFORE, NCWC and the undersigned members of the Aboriginal community are committed to working together to encourage the Government of Canada to draft an Aboriginal Human Rights Code in consultation with First Nations governments in compliance with the UN Human Rights Conventions; and to ratify and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with particular attention to addressing the inequalities encountered by Aboriginal women and girls in Canada;
AND FURTHER, NCWC and the undersigned members of the Aboriginal community declare their continued commitment in cooperation, engagement, and support of Aboriginal women, to urge open and meaningful public policy dialogue between the Government of Canada and Aboriginal communities on critical issues needing immediate resolution in addressing the systemic issues of violence against Aboriginal women and girls.
NCWC, NWAC, AMC, and Members of the Aboriginal Community
NCWC, President MARY SCOTT
NWAC, President JEANNETTE CORBIERE-LAVELL
AMC CHIEF FRANCES MEECHES
(Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs)
[Members of Aboriginal Community]
BARBARA HOULE (MOTHER OF CHARISSE HOULE)
BARBARA HOULE (MOTHER OF CHARISSE HOULE)
AUNT OF CHARISSE HOULE
SISTER OF CHARISSE HOULE
AUNT OF KELLY MORISSEAU
AUNT OF CHARISSE HOULE
Delegates (OVER 100 SIGNATURES)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)