Time for action to end violence against women
On International Women's Day, the BC First Nations Leadership Council expresses its greatest respect to all women who collectively contribute to the strength and security of our families, communities and Nations.
BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould stated "International women’s day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women across the globe but also a time to reflect on the challenges far too many women still face; in particular the need to take action to end violence against women and girls. Incidences of violence against aboriginal women remain far too high and a deadly violation of women's rights. . We call on the provincial and federal governments to work with First Nations and increase our collective efforts to end violence against women and girls."
"Unfortunately, every First Nation in BC knows the great sorrow of losing one of their daughters, one of their mothers or one of their aunties to senseless violence. Given the many police investigations, criminal prosecutions or cold cases in the downtown eastside of Vancouver and along the many highways across the country, it is unacceptable that the Government of Canada continues to ignore the need for a full and thorough public inquiry into the missing and murdered women of our communities” said Grand Chief Edward John of the First Nations Summit Political Executive.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs concluded “We must learn from the horrific murders and disappearances of our loved ones. We cannot allow these tragedies to slowly disappear. We must act, we must continue to fight for the victims and their families to find them justice and peace. We must begin with a national inquiry where the findings can be used to develop a coordinated and comprehensive national plan of action that ensure impartial and timely investigations, prosecutions, convictions of those responsible for disappearances and murder of First Nations women.”
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future and in some countries is a national holiday. International Women's Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed. The firstInternational Women's Day event was run in 1911.
The First Nations Leadership Council is comprised of the political executives of the BC Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.
