Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Canada’s domestic WPS priority?
Canada is advancing its leadership role in promoting the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda internationally, the Elsie Initiative being proof of one such effort. But the question here is whether it is doing enough domestically.
Time to read: 5 min
Canada is advancing its leadership role in promoting the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda internationally, the Elsie Initiative being proof of one such effort. But the question here is whether it is doing enough domestically. This is an important question to ponder since statistics show that Indigenous women and girls are 12 times more likely to be murdered or missing than other women in the country, and they are three times more likely to be a victim of spousal violence. The recently observed National Indigenous Day is a timely reminder to direct our attention to domestic priorities relating to the safety and security of women and girls, especially the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
There have been government-led efforts to respond to the targeted and systemic violence faced by indigenous women and girls. For instance, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has attempted to identify how many First Nations, Inuit, or Métis women, and girls have been murdered or have gone missing. The RCMP-led study Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview revealed their homicide rate to be 4.5 times more higher than other women in Canada, including evidence of 105 women and girls missing under suspicious circumstances or for undetermined reasons.
The recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from 2015 led to National Inquiry into MMIWG in 2019. It provided evidence of the disproportionate systemic violence, abuse, and discrimination. The report included 231 calls for Justice aimed at all levels of the government including policing activities, institutions, healthcare, child welfare, and correctional services. The resulting 2021 National Action Plan on MMIWG was a step in the right direction, but again, is it enough?
Indigenous gender advocates for long have been demanding for the ongoing provisions to be preventive in their approach and not strictly reactive. They have vocalized their discontent on the national action plan, which they see as being a disservice to Indigenous women and girls across the country as it lacks steps for immediate action. With the slogan ‘Justice delayed is justice denied,’ they continue to demand transparency and inclusivity in the designing of the action plan for it to resonate with the indigenous groups. Their frustration lies in the lack of urgency to duly investigate these cases which have led to continued suffering for their family members and the community at large. There is also discontent in the ways in which the issue of MMIWG is not highlighted in mainstream media. The community is looking for acknowledgment of the ongoing targeted crimes perpetuated by this lack of understanding of their struggles and needs, especially by the government and police agencies.
The intergenerational and economic costs of continued cases of MMIWG are high. A 2009 study concluded that government agencies bear a substantial annual cost of $675 million. These are the costs of administering police investigations, the judicial system, court proceedings, and preventative measures. The strain on the country is multiplied through these economic repercussions. If we address the problem, we address the economic costs with it. The faith in the country’s judicial system and accountability of government agencies is facing a test of time as it grapples with the tragic issues of women’s safety and security.
The UN Special Rapporteur on ending violence against womenrecognized the deep-rooted discrimination and intergenerational trauma arising from colonialism, and discriminatory legal provisions and practices. There was an appeal for sustainable funding for the efficient provision of services, safe shelters, and housing. There is emerging evidence that COVID-19 has increased the incidences of violence against women and girls, all across the globe. The repercussions are especially serious for marginalized communities given their social disadvantage and gender discrimination.
This is a reminder of the need for a continued focus on and development of prevention and response mechanisms and diversity in the representation of these indigenous groups at the forefront. They must be provided with the space to be critical of the government’s current approach. This should allow for close collaboration to fast-track the operationalization of its plan of action and amendments advocated by the stakeholder community at large. Post the COVID-19 pandemic, as we begin to re-evaluate our WPS programs and policies, we must seize the opportunity to reform the current legal, judicial, and corrective service mechanisms in response to the continued tragedy of MMIWG in the country.