The National Inquiry Calls for Justice – NWAC Calls for Action

June 3, 2019

Ottawa, ON –The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) welcomes today’s release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), calling it a significant milestone and an important step towards identifying the causes of all forms of violence faced by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada.

NWAC wishes to thank the National Inquiry for the release of the report and would also like to honour all the spirits of their stolen sisters and acknowledge the survivors, family members, experts and Knowledge Keepers who shared their stories throughout the Inquiry. Their strength and resiliency reveals a truth we have known for far too long. The truths shared at the hearing tell thousands of stories of acts of genocide against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people that persists to this day.

“We have the right to safety and security. Our women must be treated with respect and dignity. Recognition must go out to the families and survivors who spoke up to make sure this is possible,” said Roseann Martin, Elder at NWAC.

The process of colonization created the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The report exposes this crisis that is centuries in the making. It also highlights that discrimination is deeply rooted in policies, practices and laws, denying Indigenous women their basic human rights. This discrimination and systemic violence must end by implementing the National Inquiry’s Calls for Justice.

“The 231 Calls for Justice must be implemented. We must end all forms of violence against our women, girls, gender diverse people and communities,” said Lynne Groulx, CEO at NWAC. “Our families, women, girls and gender diverse people must have their human and Indigenous rights respected.”

As a leading voice on the issue of MMIWG, NWAC is deeply invested in the implementation of the Inquiry’s Calls for Justice. NWAC submitted 61 recommendations alongside implementation procedures to the Inquiry. We appreciate the Inquiry reflecting them in the final report.

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For more information

Please contact: Lucy Juneau – Director of Communications
ljuneau@nwac.ca | 343-997-3756

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