UN committee looks into missing, murdered Aboriginal women
Posted December 13, 2011 12:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It is hoped that the missing and murdered women controversy in Vancouver will gain international attention. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will conduct an inquiry into Canada’s missing and murdered Aboriginal women. The committee is made up of 23 independent experts from around the world.
The Committee’s decision was announced today by the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) and the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA).
“Aboriginal women in Canada experience rates of violence 3.5 times higher than non-Aboriginal women, and young Aboriginal women are five times more likely to die of violence,” says Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada.
Ernie Crey, whose sister Dawn’s DNA was found at the Pickton farm, is applauding the decision. “[I’m] glad the UN will get the inquiry underway because there doesn’t seem to be any interest on the part of our own national government.”
Crey says the UN did a good job with an inquiry surrounding missing women in Mexico five years ago and he thinks good progress was made in that case.
“The spotlight is needed here on this issue, but one that is international in scope; if we’re going to get reaction from the federal government where this pressing and very important and tragic issue is concerned.”
