The Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Children in Canada was launched in 2019 in response to the growing crisis of violence against Indigenous women and children in the country. The inquiry heard from hundreds of witnesses, including survivors, family members, and experts, and released its final report in June 2021. The report found that the violence against Indigenous women and children in Canada is a "genocide" and called for a number of urgent actions to be taken to address the crisis.
Key Findings of the Senate Inquiry
The Senate inquiry made several key findings, including:
- Violence against Indigenous women and children is widespread in Canada. In fact, Indigenous women are seven times more likely to experience violence than other Canadian women.
- The violence is disproportionately affecting young Indigenous women and girls, who are more likely to go missing or be murdered than other groups of people.
- The violence is perpetrated by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, with the majority of the perpetrators being men.
- The violence against Indigenous women and children is not only physical but also sexual, psychological, and emotional.
- The violence has a devastating impact on Indigenous communities, causing immense trauma, grief, and loss.
- The government of Canada has failed to adequately address the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and children, despite repeated calls for action.
Recommendations of the Senate Inquiry
The Senate inquiry made a number of recommendations to address the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and children, including:
- Declare a national public health emergency on the crisis.
- Implement a national action plan to address the crisis, with specific targets and timelines.
- Increase funding for Indigenous-led organizations that are providing support and services to Indigenous women and children.
- Develop and implement culturally-appropriate prevention programs that are based on the principles of Indigenous self-determination.
- Train and educate public officials, law enforcement, and service providers on the issue of violence against Indigenous women and children.
- Hold the government accountable for its failure to address the crisis.
Impact of the Senate Inquiry
The Senate inquiry has had a significant impact on the issue of violence against Indigenous women and children in Canada. The inquiry has raised awareness of the crisis, put pressure on the government to take action, and led to some positive changes. However, there is still much work to be done to address the root causes of the violence and ensure the safety of Indigenous women and children.
Here are some specific examples of the impact of the Senate inquiry:
- In 2019, the Canadian government launched a national action plan to address violence against Indigenous women and children. The action plan includes $600 million in funding over five years for a variety of initiatives, such as support services for victims, prevention programs, and training for public officials.
- In 2020, the government of Alberta declared a state of emergency on violence against Indigenous women and girls. The declaration includes a number of initiatives, such as increased police patrols, support services for victims, and awareness campaigns.
- In 2021, the federal government announced that it would be providing $25 million in funding to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Secretariat to support its work. The secretariat is a national organization that works to address the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and children.
The Senate inquiry has also had an impact on public opinion. In 2021, a poll found that 82% of Canadians believe that the government is not doing enough to address violence against Indigenous women and children. This level of public support has helped to put pressure on the government to take action.
