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A National Public Inquiry would increase public awareness of this human rights crisis in Canada.
Ottawa (12 Nov. 2013) – The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is once again encouraging its members and all Canadians to sign a petition calling on the federal government to hold a national inquiry to investigate the tragedy of violence against Aboriginal women and girls in Canada. Launched by the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) a year ago, the petition has garnered more than 10,000 signatures.
NUPGE members and the public are encouraged to sign NWAC's petition for a national inquiry on violence against Aboriginal women and children
NWAC has documented over 582 cases of missing or murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Most of the cases are from the last 10 years but there are likely many older cases that have not been documented. And each and every month this epidemic of violence continues to claim more Aboriginal women and girls’ lives. NWAC believes that a National Inquiry is a crucial step in implementing a comprehensive and coordinated National Action Plan to address the scale and severity of violence faced by Aboriginal women and girls.
Michèle Audette, president of NWAC, states, “Our hearts are full as we remember our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties, grandmothers and friends who have been lost to violence. We call on the Federal Government to support families and communities, Aboriginal leadership, allies and the Premiers who have voiced the need for a National Public Inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.”
UN special raporteur on indigeneous peoples wants to see public inquiry
A National Public Inquiry would increase public awareness of this human rights crisis in Canada and provide assurance to Aboriginal peoples that all levels of government recognize the severity of the issue and are committed to ending these cycles of violence.
The need for a National Inquiry into the issue of murdered and missing Aboriginal women in Canada was reinforced by the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, during his tour of Canada in October. Anaya stated, “I concur that a comprehensive and nationwide inquiry into the issue could help ensure a coordinated response and the opportunity for the loved ones of victims to be heard and would demonstrate a responsiveness to the concerns raised by the families and communities affected by this epidemic.”
Send a message to the federal government that we need a public inquiry - download your petition today. Petitions to be presented during the week of December 6
NWAC plans to submit the petition to the federal government the week of December 6th. Please join us in gathering support for a National Inquiry by downloading a copy of the petition, gathering signatures and submitting the completed forms to the NWAC office by the end of November 2013. The petition can only be signed in person and on paper as there are restrictions as to what type of petitions can be submitted to the Federal Government.
More Information:
A National Inquiry is needed! Petition
Why Support a National Public Inquiry? Backgrounder
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE