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“Stolen Sisters: A Human Rights Response to Discrimination and Violence against Indigenous Women in Canada”
20 January 2014 - by YMCA International
“Stolen Sisters: A Human Rights Response to Discrimination and Violence against Indigenous Women in Canada”, is an International report developed in 2004 by Darlene Osborne (Amnesty International) which is aimed at raising awareness concerning Indigenous women in Canada who are experiencing excessive rates of violence. Though it has been reportedly said that a total of 520 Indigenous women have either gone missing or have been murdered, The Native Women’s Association of Canada believes it to be higher due to a number of cases that have not been reported. Up to this day these women have been victims of abuse and sexual assault, and have received no or little support from higher authorities. Due to insufficient and irregular follow ups with cases, 60 percent of what makes up 6 percent of the province have been reported to be either murdered or missing.
If an Indigenous woman cannot financially support her child, the child is often taken away from the mother and away from the community. Because of the conditions many of these women live in, which include communities where income is difficult to obtain, education is limited, higher risk for disease and life expectancy is lower than other communities across Canada, they are often forced to depend on the sex trade industry to care for themselves and children. Moreover, Indigenous women suffer more serious consequences by the police if they are found working in the sex trade, and the security and safety of these women is still ignored. For example, cases have occurred in the past where it has taken fifteen years to lay charges against a criminal. Police have often refused interfering with the security and safety of these women due to factors including fear of becoming labeled for talking about the race or ethnicity of Indigenous women. In a majority of cases, Indigenous women have no other choice other than facing poverty and homelessness when leaving an abusive spouse.
Although there have been some improvements agreed to be made for these communities from the federal and provincial governments towards health care, education and housing, limited action has been taken. More Indigenous women experience limited access to medical treatment and are dependent on sharing housing. Indigenous women also have limited access to resources and services that can help them escape from violence; for instance, emergency shelters. Indigenous women continue to have little or no access or exposure to medical treatment, and often share houses due to the unavailability of shelters for escaping violence.
With more people becoming aware of this issue, vigils are becoming more common across Canada. The purpose of these vigils is to expose Canadians to the truth concerning the violence and criminal offenses that Indigenous women in Canada a facing at exorbitant rates. Additionally, the vigils also aim to expose the discrimination faced by Indigenous women because of their gender and race. As more Canadians become informed, the greater ability we have to raise awareness on this issue and bring greater attention to law enforcement agencies and federal and provincial governments so that meaningful actions can be taken and justice can finally take root.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.amnesty.ca/sites/default/files/amr200122009enstolensistersupdate.pdf
Special thanks to Melody Ghaderi, volunteer from Social Service Worker, Immigrants and Refugees program, for your hard work and effort in writing this blog.
If an Indigenous woman cannot financially support her child, the child is often taken away from the mother and away from the community. Because of the conditions many of these women live in, which include communities where income is difficult to obtain, education is limited, higher risk for disease and life expectancy is lower than other communities across Canada, they are often forced to depend on the sex trade industry to care for themselves and children. Moreover, Indigenous women suffer more serious consequences by the police if they are found working in the sex trade, and the security and safety of these women is still ignored. For example, cases have occurred in the past where it has taken fifteen years to lay charges against a criminal. Police have often refused interfering with the security and safety of these women due to factors including fear of becoming labeled for talking about the race or ethnicity of Indigenous women. In a majority of cases, Indigenous women have no other choice other than facing poverty and homelessness when leaving an abusive spouse.
Although there have been some improvements agreed to be made for these communities from the federal and provincial governments towards health care, education and housing, limited action has been taken. More Indigenous women experience limited access to medical treatment and are dependent on sharing housing. Indigenous women also have limited access to resources and services that can help them escape from violence; for instance, emergency shelters. Indigenous women continue to have little or no access or exposure to medical treatment, and often share houses due to the unavailability of shelters for escaping violence.
With more people becoming aware of this issue, vigils are becoming more common across Canada. The purpose of these vigils is to expose Canadians to the truth concerning the violence and criminal offenses that Indigenous women in Canada a facing at exorbitant rates. Additionally, the vigils also aim to expose the discrimination faced by Indigenous women because of their gender and race. As more Canadians become informed, the greater ability we have to raise awareness on this issue and bring greater attention to law enforcement agencies and federal and provincial governments so that meaningful actions can be taken and justice can finally take root.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.amnesty.ca/sites/default/files/amr200122009enstolensistersupdate.pdf
Special thanks to Melody Ghaderi, volunteer from Social Service Worker, Immigrants and Refugees program, for your hard work and effort in writing this blog.
