CUPE stands in solidarity with Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada who are demanding the action plan that was promised after the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls delivered its final report over a year ago.
As recently as December 2019, Minister Bennett promised an action plan would be revealed by the one-year anniversary of the report’s release. That promise has been broken. Minister Bennett has blamed COVID-19 for the delay. However, it is more important than ever for an action plan to be released and for work to begin.
The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is highlighting the urgency. In a recent statement, NWAC says violence against Indigenous women has been intensifying, and that the Indigenous women they surveyed were more concerned about domestic violence than the pandemic. NWAC also states that they were “appalled” by the delay of the action plan and that they “hope the Indigenous women and girls of Canada have not been abandoned.”
The former commissioners of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls have released a statement condemning the federal government’s inaction and calling for international attention to support the implementation of the Calls to Justice.
It is a national shame that Indigenous family members and survivors shared their testimonies with the inquiry only to have their voices ignored. Indigenous communities deserve to have their messages heard. The lack of action on these issues means violence will continue to disproportionately affect Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. It is unacceptable that the federal government has not released an action plan. CUPE remains committed to ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people, and will continue to work to hold all governments and our own union to account on implementing the Calls to Justice.