WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government is demonstrating a leadership sorely lacking by the Harper Conservatives on the issue of missing Aboriginal women and girls after the province announced it would be investigating unsolved cases, Liberal Status of Women Critic Anita Neville said today.
“We are greatly supportive of Manitoba’s plan to launch an investigation into the unsolved cases of missing Aboriginal women in that province,” said Ms. Neville. “It is an important step to providing justice to victims and their families, and it demonstrates leadership on this far-too-often ignored issue.
“Last spring, we called on the federal government to launch a federal investigation, as we know that these cases often cross provincial and international borders. Unfortunately, the Harper government has chosen not to respond to our calls,” she said.
Ms. Neville travelled to Washington, D.C., yesterday to meet with U.S. government officials and NGOs that are focused on the issue of human trafficking.
She said she heard concerns expressed about the government’s inaction in dealing with the Aboriginal women and girls, many of whom, it is believed, have fallen prey to human trafficking.
“Trafficking in persons disproportionately affects women and girls,” said Ms. Neville. “American NGOs expressed deep concern that the Harper government has taken only a piecemeal – rather than a comprehensive – approach to an issue for which Canada has developed a less than flattering international reputation.
“The Harper government has introduced no legislation on the issue, despite their so-called tough-on-crime agenda. In fact, they have completely ignored it, and that is unacceptable,” she said.
BACKGROUND
. Earlier this year, a report from the Native Women’s Association of Canada found that 520 Aboriginal women and girls have been murdered or gone missing in Canada since 1970.
. Of that number, 67 percent were tragically murdered, while a troubling 24 percent remain missing, according to the report. Fourteen percent of the missing girls and young women were under 18 years of age at the time of their disappearance.
. Liberals asked for a full investigation in the House of Commons back in May.
. To date, the Minister of State for the Status of Women, Helena Guergis, has not responded. On June 26, Ms. Neville and Liberal Aboriginal Affairs Critic Todd Russell received a letter from Justice Minister Rob Nicholson that completely ignores their request.
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Contact:
Office of the Hon. Anita Neville
613-992-9475
