Policy Sectors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2022
OTTAWA – A statement from Carol McBride, the President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), on the findings contained in the Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator of Canada:
“The Correctional Investigator of Canada issued a report yesterday that confirmed the number of incarcerated Indigenous women had reached 50% this year. Even more shocking is the fact that of the women who were classified as maximum-security prisoners, almost 65% of them are Indigenous.
Every time we receive reports of the discriminatory and unjust treatment of Indigenous prisoners in Canada, hope rekindles that it will be the “wake-up call” leading to change.
But, after decades and decades of wake-up calls through damning reports like the one issued by the Correctional Investigator of Canada, we have run out of optimism.
At the Native Women’s Association of Canada, we have come to understand that the federal government is blatantly ignoring the suffering of the thousands of Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, transgendered, and gender-diverse people who are behind bars in this country.
The half-empty healing lodges, the stalled construction of healing lodges that had been promised, the failure to appoint a commissioner of Indigenous corrections – these are all signs of failure on the part of successive governments to meet a basic standard of human rights.
This is shameful neglect, and every elected official in Ottawa should be held to account.”
-30-
For information, or to arrange an interview, contact:
Annette Goerner
annette@sparkadvocacy.ca
+1 (613) 818-6941
Pour obtenir plus d’information ou prendre des dispositions pour une interview, contacter:
Annette Goerner
annette@sparkadvocacy.ca
+1 (613) 818-6941
About The Native Women’s Association of Canada
The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a National Indigenous Organization representing the political voice of Indigenous women, girls, transgender, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people in Canada, inclusive of First Nations on and off reserve, status and non-status, disenfranchised, Métis and Inuit. An aggregate of Indigenous women’s organizations from across the country, NWAC was founded on the collective goal to enhance, promote and foster the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of Indigenous women within their respective communities and Canada societies.
À propos de l'Association des femmes autochtones du Canada
L'Association des femmes autochtones du Canada (AFAC) est une organisation autochtone nationale qui représente la voix politique des femmes, des filles, des transgenres, des bispirituels et des personnes de sexe différent au Canada, y compris les membres des Premières nations vivant dans les réserves et hors réserve, les Indiens inscrits et non inscrits, les personnes privées de leurs droits, les Métis et les Inuits. Regroupant des organisations de femmes autochtones de tout le pays, l'AFAC a été fondée dans le but collectif d'améliorer, de promouvoir et de favoriser le bien-être social, économique, culturel et politique des femmes autochtones au sein de leurs communautés respectives et des sociétés canadiennes.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest from NWAC, our events, partners and supporters. You can unsubscribe anytime.
© 2023 Native Women's Association of Canada
