OTTAWA – In recognition of the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Chief Betty Ann Lavallée reiterated her commitment to concrete action to address the issue of murdered and missing Aboriginal women and girls.

Speaking from Prince George, British Columbia, the latest stop on her National Grassroots Engagement Tour, National Chief Lavallée said, “I’ve been listening to grassroots people in communities talk about the need for housing and the burden of poverty in our communities. We must acknowledge that these issues, as well as discrimination, all play a role in the crisis facing Aboriginal communities in Canada.”

“Our women are vulnerable to violence in part because they do not have the means to combat violence: they lack a safe home to escape to, the respect of those whose job it is to provide protection, and the means to protect themselves. But what we don’t know is to what extent each factor plays a role or precisely what other factors might be involved. That is why we need a national inquiry, to fully understand the truth and to come to grips with it”, she added.

“I believe that criminal investigations and prosecutions are an important part of the solution. But the simple truth is that those actions only happen after people have been victimized. I want to stop the violence from happening in the first place” stressed the National Chief. “That is why – in addition to supporting investment in shelters and other programs to make our communities safer – we at CAP will continue to support the call for a national inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women and Girls and I will continue to add my voice to that call whenever and wherever I can.”

In December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, has stated that “Everyone has a responsibility to prevent and end violence against women and girls, starting by challenging the culture of discrimination that allows it to continue.” For more information on the United Nations efforts, please visit https://www/un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/.
Since 1971, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples has been the national representative organization advocating for the rights and interests of off-reserve non-Status and Status Indians, Southern Inuit of Labrador and Métis Peoples.

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