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Statement from Minister Bennett on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls request for an extension and Interim report


OTTAWA, June 5, 2018 /CNW/ - The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Carolyn Bennett, issued the following statement today:

"With the launch of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the Government of Canada underscored its commitment to work to end the unacceptable rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls, and help ensure that current and future generations of Indigenous women, children and families are safe.

The Government of Canada has reviewed the request it received on March 6, 2018 from the Commissioners for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

As a result of a thorough review of this request, and based on what we heard from survivors, family members and Indigenous organizations, and discussions with provinces and territories, the Commission will be  receiving more time to submit its final report. The Commission will have until April 30, 2019 from the initial date of November 1, 2018 to deliver the report.

The extension to submit the report means the Commissioners can choose to extend the time, up to December 2018, to hear from additional families and survivors, further examine institutional practices and policies, and undertake the research necessary to inform their recommendations on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada. Following the receipt of the report, the Commission will have another two months, until June 30, 2019, to wind down its operations.

This approach acknowledges that more survivors and family members want to share their experiences, while underscoring the urgency this Government places on seeing the Commission deliver concrete recommendations that will address systemic and institutional issues to help keep Indigenous women and girls safe.

The Government of Canada is also taking action to address the interim recommendations of the National Inquiry by increasing health supports and victim services, establishing a commemoration fund, funding organizations with expertise in law enforcement and policing to lead a review of police policies and practices concerning their relations with the Indigenous peoples they serve, as well as supporting a Royal Canadian Mounted Police National Investigative Standards and Practices Unit with additional funding.

Furthermore, we continue to make important investments in housing and shelters, education, and reforming child and family services. We are also investing in programs to prevent and address violence ?against Indigenous women and girls through the implementation of It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.

Together with Indigenous peoples and partners across the country, we continue our collective efforts to help prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls, and protect future generations."


Backgrounder


June 5, 2018

Government of Canada ? National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Ending violence against Indigenous women and girls is a top priority for the Government of Canada.

On June 5, 2018, Minister Carolyn Bennett and senior officials from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Public Safety, Indigenous Services Canada, Status of Women Canada and Justice Canada held a media briefing to provide an update on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls' request for an extension and Interim Report.

Status

The Government of Canada dedicated $53.8 million to the Inquiry, and provided terms of reference and a timeline of two years, September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018, to complete its important work. The terms of reference directed the Inquiry to deliver an interim report on November 1, 2017 and a final report on November 1, 2018.

The Inquiry has travelled across the country gathering information, hearing from families, communities, experts, and institutions. To date, it has held 15 Community Hearings with survivors and family members; Statement Gatherings in other communities; two Expert and Knowledge Keepers Hearings, one on Indigenous Law and Decolonizing Perspectives and one on the Human Rights Framework; and, one Institutional Hearing on Government Services. Another Expert Hearing on Racism and an Institutional Hearing on Police Policies and Practices have been scheduled by the National Inquiry to take place before the end of June 2018.

The Inquiry, as mandated, released an interim report with recommendations on November 1, 2017 in Our Women and Girls Are Sacred. 

The Path Forward

The Government of Canada announced on June 5, 2018, that the Commission will be granted an extension and the Inquiry will have until April 30, 2019 to submit its final report, instead of the initial date of November 1, 2018. The extension to submit the report means the Commissioners can choose to extend the time, up to December 2018, to hear from additional families and survivors, further examine institutional practices and policies, and undertake the research necessary to inform their recommendations on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada. The Commission also has another two months, until June 30, 2019, to wind down its work.  

This approach acknowledges that there are more survivors and family members who want to share their experiences, while underscoring the urgency that this Government places on seeing the Commission deliver concrete recommendations to address systemic and institutional issues to help keep Indigenous women and girls safe. It also provides opportunity for the Inquiry's final recommendations to be informed by further expert or institutional hearings and research, if the Commission chooses to do so.  

The federal Terms of reference for the Inquiry will be amended to reflect the new timelines for the Inquiry to deliver its final report and wind-down its operations. The appointments of the Commissioners leading the Inquiry will also be extended. 

The Government of Canada will continue its support of the Inquiry through the administrative working group led by the Privy Council Office to ensure that the Commission receives the help it needs with administrative issues.

The Government of Canada recognizes that funding?including operational and salary costs?may be required to enable the Inquiry to continue beyond the original December 31, 2018, conclusion date. The Government will work with the Inquiry to determine its budgetary requirements.

Interim Recommendations

The recommendations of the Inquiry's interim report identified changes that could be implemented to improve the functioning of the Inquiry and better address the needs of survivors and family members going forward. We are taking action in these areas: 

Points of Progress since the launch of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (officially launched on August 3, 2016)

The Government of Canada continues to engage with Indigenous peoples and take concrete actions to eliminate violence towards women and girls, and protect future generations. For example:

Facts & Figures

Associated Links
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 
Supporting Families of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 
It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence 
End Violence 
Working Together to End Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls National Scan of RCMP Initiatives May 2017

 

To reach out for immediate assistance, the National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 1-844-413-6649.

 

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SOURCE Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada


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