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 118^th Annual Meeting held in Winnipeg, June 2^nd to June 4^th (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)

AUNT OF CHARISSE HOULE

SISTER OF CHARISSE HOULE

AUNT OF KELLY MORISSEAU

AUNT OF CHARISSE HOULE

Delegates (OVER 100 SIGNATURES)